By Washington Watch: Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she’ll vote to confirm Jackson, becoming 2nd Republican to back Supreme Court nominee
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she’ll vote to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson, becoming second Republican to back President Biden’s Supreme Court nominee.
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday deadlocked over Judge Jackson’s nomination, but she is expected to get confirmed by the full Senate in a close vote later this week.
All 11 of the panel’s Democratic members supported her and all 11 Republicans opposed her.
The nomination of Jackson still should proceed to the full Senate for a vote, because, following a deadlock for a committee, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, can file what’s known as a discharge petition to get her nomination on the calendar.
All 50 Senate Democrats are expected to back President Joe Biden’s pick in a floor vote later this week. Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine last week became the first GOP senator to say she plans to back Jackson, so Democrats won’t need Vice President Kamala Harris to break a tie in the 50-50 chamber.
The Associated Press contributed.
