Lindsey Graham, Chuck Grassley, and Susan Collins Have Said They Won’t Vote For SCOTUS Nominee During An Election

Last updated on July 18th, 2023 at 12:12 pm

Republicans Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Susan Collins (R-ME) have all said in the past that they would not vote to confirm a SCOTUS nominee in an election year.

Here is Graham in 2018:

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In 2018, Grassley said about a potential 2020 vacancy:

Grassley cited the “Biden Rule” — a guideline stemming from a speech given by then-Senator Joe Biden in 1992 — which contends that a vacancy on the Supreme Court in a presidential election year should be left open so the American people can have a say in who makes the decision.

This rule was followed in 2016 when Grassley refused to hold hearings for Merrick Garland, then-President Barack Obama‘s nominee. If there is a vacancy in 2020, Grassley said he will follow the same rule, though he said both President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell would not agree with him.

Susan Collins said earlier this month that she would not vote to confirm a new Supreme Court justice in October because she feels that it is too close to the election:

Graham is tied with Democrat Jaime Harrison in South Carolina, Collins is trailing in her bid for reelection, and Grassley is not up for reelection.

Graham is likely to change his position. Grassley could change his, and Collins might refuse to vote for a nominee in October as her on last gasp gesture of moderation to save her Senate seat. Enough Republicans are on record as opposing jamming a Supreme Court nominee through that they could block Trump and McConnell’s plan, but the reality is that none of these spineless senators can be trusted and Democrats should be ready to fight.

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Jason Easley

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