Republicans are failing to get anything close to the number of Democratic votes needed to move Trump Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch to a final vote.
Democratic Senators have mostly stood united with a few expected defections of Sens. Manchin (D-WV), Donnelly (D-IN), Heitencamp (D-ND) along with Sen. Michael Bennett of Colorado.
44 of 48 Senate Democrats voted against moving Gorsuch forward.
Trump and McConnell have always been intent on changing the Senate rules on Supreme Court nominees. Mitch McConnell voted no, but that was a procedural move so that he can challenge the rule of the chair and move to change the rules to get Gorsuch confirmed by a majority vote.
To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.
It is a day that was destined to occur in the Senate. The nuclear option is about to be invoked. The vote was 55-45 as the Senate is now voting on a motion to reconsider that requires a simple majority. A McConnell point of order is coming that would allow the nuclear option to be invoked.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association