The Senate confirmed the first of seven nominees over which Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid originally threatened to invoke the "nuclear option" Tuesday evening.

Richard Cordray was confirmed as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau with a Senate vote of 66 to 34. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who was an early advocate of the consumer watchdog agency, was in the chair when the vote was called.

It took nearly two years to confirm Cordray to the post. He was nominated by President Obama exactly two years ago Wednesday.

President Obama installed Cordray to the post at CFPB during a recess appointment in January 2012, drawing scrutiny from Republicans on Capitol Hill. Cordray previously served as attorney general of Ohio.

Cordray's confirmation came after the Senate reached a deal to avert the so-called "nuclear option." Under the agreement, the White House pulled two of its nominees for the National Labor Relations Board and issued new nominations for the Senate to consider.