Democrats are launching a plan to try to defeat President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee as they become increasingly worried about how a newcomer on the federal bench will affect a decision to preserve or overturn the court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.
They seek to determine a balance between attacking the nominee and to re-elect moderate Democrats who won states that voted for Trump in the 2016 election. Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin and North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp are facing pressure from Democrats to vote “no” to Trump’s appointment. The balance is delicate, however, as they will seek re-election in states where Trump won easily.
Trump narrowed Supreme Court choices down to Amy Coney Barrett along, Brett Kavanaugh and Raymond Kethledge to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy, the Associated Press reported Thursday.
“We’re only going to succeed in defeating his nominee if we make it politically popular to vote against her or him in those red states,” said Demand Justice executive director Brian Fallon, according to US News. Demand Justice, a left-of-center advocacy group that seeks to influence judicial nominees, plans to spend $5 million on ads from July to September.
“I want them to hold the line and I don’t want them to cave,” Women’s March political adviser Winnie Wong also said, US News reports.
Democrats are also putting pressure on GOP Maine Sen. Susan Collins and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Both senators have defended a woman’s right to abort, and Collins has stated that she won’t support a nominee who seeks to overturn Roe v. Wade.
The Women’s March is planning “massive civil disobedience” and encouraging Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to pressure Democrats to oppose Trump’s nominee at all costs. (RELATED: Supreme Court Candidate Coney Barrett Might Not Threaten Roe V. Wade As Much As Democrats Fear)
Senators “need to be examining their conscience and their moral maps and stand with us,” NARAL Pro-Choice America president Ilyse Hogue told reporters, US News reports. “And if they don’t, they need to examine their political futures,” Hogue added.
The president will announce his Supreme Court nominee on Monday.
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