Sen. Susan Collins has become the first Republican to back Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court.
The announcement by the Maine Republican means Jackson's confirmation will be bipartisan.
CNBC reports:
Jackson is now all but guaranteed to become the first Black woman to serve as a Supreme Court justice.
“After reviewing Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's extensive record, watching much of her hearing testimony, and meeting with her twice in person, I have concluded that she possesses the experience, qualifications, and integrity to serve as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court,” Collins said in a statement Wednesday.
“I will, therefore, vote to confirm her to this position,” the centrist senator from Maine said.
After emerging from a grueling week of confirmation hearings with few scars, the 51-year-old federal judge was expected to be confirmed even if no Republicans in the evenly-split Senate voted for her.
The news comes days after West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin said he would vote for Biden's Supreme Court nominee. Behind the scenes, Democrats lobbied Republican swing votes as the Senate headed towards Jackson's confirmation vote.
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the Senate's second-highest ranking Republican, predicted yesterday that Democrats could peel away as many as three GOP votes.
Besides Collins, the most likely Jackson votes from the 50-member Republican caucus are Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Mitt Romney (Utah).
There are three Republicans who deserve to lose their seats in the coming midterms- Susan Collins, Liz Cheney and Mitt Romney. Can’t imagine why they call themselves Republicans as they vote almost always with the left on critical issues. Lets get rid of them !!
Well said! It’s hilarious when they label these people as Republicans, they always vote with the democrats.
This gal is just about worthless. She should be primaried.
Ask me if I am surprised Susan Collins is one of a few Demopublicans that will vote along side of her left wing leaning friends with the other Socialists and President Biden
But she’s not really a Republican, is she?
I’m not sorry for saying this. If your constituents were Democrats… Then these 5 need to stay Democratic. You can’t ride the rails and expect your voters not to comment on this! You 5 have been like a cancer feeding off of both sides to suit your personal purposes. You are not politicians. You can’t be, as vile, as you are and expect us to embrace your evil habits. I can’t wait for Mitt Romney to literally go to jail, along with his children. He opened the doors for his kids to get as much, as they could without answering to anyone! It’s time to pay the piper. Mitt Romney your father has been rolling in his grave. What a waste in Utah, Maine, Alaska, etc. I’m ashamed of everyone of you who feel this is your due. It’s not!!