One of the most vulnerable Republican senators up for re-election this year, Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner issued a statement on Monday saying he will vote to confirm Donald Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court.
“When a President exercises constitutional authority to nominate a judge for the Supreme Court vacancy, the Senate must decide how to best fulfill its constitutional duty of advice and consent. I have and will continue to support judicial nominees who will protect our Constitution, not legislate from the bench, and uphold the law. Should a qualified nominee who meets this criteria be put forward, I will vote to confirm,”
Sen. Cory Gardner’s statement on the Supreme Court vacancy.
Gardner’s decision to vote to confirm a nominee in an election year, means McConnell now have the votes he needs since Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley also signaled on Monday that he will vote to confirm a nominee.
“Over the years, and as recently as July, I’ve consistently said that taking up and evaluating a nominee in 2020 would be a decision for the current chairman of the Judiciary Committee and the Senate majority leader,” Grassley said in a statement. “Both have confirmed their intentions to move forward, so that’s what will happen.”
With a 53-47 Republican majority in the Senate, even if Utah Sen. Mitt Romney oppose the decision to move forward, siding with Collins and Murkowski, it would mean a 50-50 split and Vice-President Mike Pence would break the tie.
Gardner may have secured a seat for another Trump justice on the Supreme Court but in doing so, he may have given up his.
