Romney Comes Out In Support Of Holding Vote On Next Supreme Court Nominee

Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney said Tuesday that he would support a floor vote on President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, giving Senate Republicans enough votes to move forward.

Only two Republican senators, Maine Sen. Susan Collins and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski have asked for the party to wait until after the election for a vote on a new nominee after the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died Friday.

“I intend to follow the Constitution and precedent in considering the president’s nominee. If the nominee reaches the Senate floor, I intend to vote based upon their qualifications,” Romney said in a statement.

“What I intend to is to proceed with the consideration process, and if a nominee actually reaches the floor, then I will vote based upon the qualifications of that nominee,” Romey told reporters Tuesday after issuing the statement.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell gave a speech Monday remembering Ginsburg and said  Trump’s Supreme Court nominee will receive a vote on the Senate floor. (RELATED: McConnell Says ‘Trump’s Nominee For This Vacancy Will Receive A Vote’)

In a floor speech, McConnell honored Ginsburg and her service on the court, mentioning the successes in her life before moving on to explain how he would like to proceed with the Supreme Court vacancy.

The speech was given despite, Murkowski and Collins’ opposition with moving forward with a vote before the election.

“For weeks,” Murkowski said Sunday, “I have stated that I would not support taking up a potential supreme court vacancy this close to the election. Sadly, what was then a hypothetical is now our reality, but my position has not changed. “I did not support taking up a nomination eight months before the 2016 election to fill the vacancy created by the passing of Justice Scalia. We are now even closer to the 2020 election – less than two months out – and I believe the same standard must apply.”

Collins, who is up reelection, made similar remarks about voting on a nominee before the November elections saying it would better to wait until after the next president is decided. (RELATED: Ginsburg To Lie In State In US Capitol On Friday — Will Be First Woman To Hold The Honor)

“In fairness to the American people, who will either be re-electing the President or selecting a new one, the decision on a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court should be made by the President who is elected on November 3rd,” Collins said in a statement Saturday.