Judge Brett Kavanaugh secured enough votes for his final Senate confirmation to be an Associate Justice to the United States Supreme Court.
During the Senate procedural vote on Friday, undecided Republican Senators, Jeff Flake of Arizona and Susan Collins of Maine said they will support Kavanaugh’s confirmation.
Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski bucked their party. Manchin was the only Democrat to vote yes while Murkowski is the sole Republican to vote no on Kavanaugh.
The outcome was 51-49 votes thus Kavanaugh is almost certain to be confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday.
Collins, Manchin believe Kavanaugh is qualified
On Friday, Collins delivered a lengthy speech explaining why she will vote to confirm the Supreme Court nominee. She noted that Kavanaugh is the “first Supreme Court nominee to express view that precedent is not merely a practice and tradition, but rooted in the Article III of the Constitution itself…” He believes that “honoring precedent is essential to maintaining public confidence.”
