Ketanji Brown Jackson is facing growing Republican opposition to putting her on the Supreme Court, according to The Hill.
Her confirmation can be pushed through without any Republican support provided that all 50 of the Senate's Democrats, including independents who caucus with the party, vote in favor of putting her on the high court. However, Vice President Kamala Harris would have to break a tie vote.
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday he won't support Jackson.
Speaking on the Senate floor, he said: "I cannot and will not support Judge Jackson for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court."
The Hill reported Republican senators say Jackson did little to win over GOP members during her confirmation hearing.
"I think the read out from the members who have been in the hearing room for those of us who haven't been in the hearing room is that she's not changing minds," said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.
He said the hearings have likely succeeded in firming up opposition to Jackson among Republicans.
The Hill quoted an unnamed Republican senator as saying: "I didn't think the hearings went as well for her as I thought they would."
Politico noted Republican complaints about Jackson are irking Democrats, who maintain they are holding her to a different standard than their own judicial nominees.
"Why is it a different standard? Because she's nominated by a Democrat?" Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., asked. "Or because she's a woman? Or because of the color of her skin? Look at what she's accomplished. This woman is incredibly qualified, and she's proven that in these hearings. I think it just speaks to the fact that politics outweighs common sense."
Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Mitt Romney of Utah, are the GOP lawmakers seen as the most likely to back her nomination, according to Politico.
Romney has announced he would not comment on whether he opposes putting Jackson on the high court until after he meets with her next week.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., chairman of the Judiciary Committee, didn't rule out that Jackson could get GOP votes, according to The Hill.
"I still think there's a chance … I've talked to a few of them," Durbin said.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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