Senate Democrats on Wednesday grilled Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President’s Trump’s pick for Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary, during a contentious confirmation hearing, hitting the former Democrat and independent presidential candidate on past statements supporting abortion access and the belief that chemicals in drinking water could be making more children gay or transgender.

They came prepared with a bevy of transcripts and quotes from Kennedy showing his often-controversial views on health that fall far outside the mainstream.

Some, including Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), have appeared open to confirming Kennedy, a former environmental lawyer with a long history of vaccine skepticism.

Wednesday’s aggressive line of questioning from Finance Committee members Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) showed progressive senators want their party to be united against Kennedy’s confirmation.

“I do think we have a chance,” Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) told reporters Wednesday ahead of Kennedy’s hearing. “It's very unclear what will happen next in terms of Republican votes, but I believe — I believe, I don't know — that Democrats will be united, and I think we can defeat this nomination, not for partisan reasons, not because I particularly want to poke the president in the eye on this one, but because I truly believe that if [Kennedy] runs HHS, that millions will die.”

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