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Manchin Voices Opposition To Voting on a Supreme Court Nomine Before the Election

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) is speaking out to oppose holding a confirmation vote on a Supreme Court nominee before the November 3 general election. As Republicans appear poised to move forward with the confirmation…

Bradley CortrightSep 21, 20202 min read

Read his statement below:

Manchin’s comments come amid a new political battle over whether lawmakers should move to fill the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat before the election.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on Monday that there is “more than sufficient time to process a nomination,” as IJR reported.

Citing Republicans’ decision in 2016 to hold open a vacancy on the Supreme Court until after the election, Democrats have urged their colleagues to wait until after the 2020 election to hold a confirmation vote.

It’s unclear if Republicans will have enough votes to confirm a nominee before the election. Currently, they hold a 53-47 seat majority in the Senate.

So far, two Republican senators have voiced their opposition to holding a confirmation vote before the election, meaning Republicans can only afford to lose one more vote to confirm a nominee and have Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote.

Otherwise, they would need Democratic support to confirm the nominee.