WASHINGTON (AP) — Nebraska Republican Sen. Deb Fischer says she will vote against Chuck Hagel to be the next defense secretary.

Fisher wrote an op-ed published Thursday in the Omaha World-Herald. She casts Hagel's views as out of the mainstream, a point she argued during his confirmation hearing last week. She also says Hagel gave, quote, "confusing and contradictory" testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Fischer's opposition was widely expected, as Hagel endorsed her Democratic rival — former Sen. Bob Kerrey — in the November election. Hagel is a former two-term GOP senator from Nebraska.

Nebraska's other Republican senator, Mike Johanns, (JOH'-hanz) has said he supports Hagel for the job.