With the Senate still being mostly Republican, no one expects Trump’s appointment this year to meet with much resistance. Three Democrats even voted for Gorsuch last year. This year, Republicans will only need the majority 51 votes to confirm Trump’s nominee.
Republicans are also hoping that the appointment of another conservative Justice will motivate evangelicals and conservatives to vote in mid-term elections. With the excitement of a favorable court, Republicans could also seal their majority control over the Senate, the House, and the state governorships.
Democratic Opposition
The current Senate Minority Leader is Chuck Schumer. He said that it would be hypocritical to vote before the mid-terms. He’s referring to the way McConnell blocked Barak’s Obama’s nominee in 2016 until after the elections.
Schumer stated that the Senate should wait to confirm such an important appointment until after the election. That way, Americans will have a chance to vote for which party they want in control of the decision.
Republican Rebuttal
There was no law concerning delaying voting on Justice nominees in 2016. However, McConnell said that he blocked Obama’s nominee because he felt the appointment of a new Justice should be left to the incoming President, not the exiting one. Because Trump is only halfway through his first term, it’s appropriate that he choose the next Justice.
