Sen. Joe Manchin said Friday he intends to vote in favor of confirming Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, meaning she’s practically assured of getting through the 50-50 Senate.
“After meeting with her, considering her record, and closely monitoring her testimony and questioning before the Senate Judiciary Committee this week, I have determined I intend to vote for her nomination to serve on the Supreme Court,” Manchin told reporters.
The West Virginia Democrat’s open support near-guarantees President Joe Biden’s nominee to succeed retiring Justice Stephen Breyer will be the first black woman justice to sit on the nine-member court, as Democrats hold a narrow majority in the 50-50 Senate, given the vice president’s tiebreaking vote.
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“Notably, Judge Jackson and her family spend a great deal of time in West Virginia, and her deep love of our state and commitment to public service were abundantly clear,” Manchin added.
Manchin’s remarks come just one day after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell confirmed he will vote “no” for Jackson following a contentious week of questioning by GOP members of the Committee on the Judiciary.
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Manchin’s vote was closely watched, as he has frequently been a thorn in the side of President Joe Biden’s administration. Manchin has scuttled other Biden nominees and has withheld support on a broad social spending plan Senate Democrats see as crucial to the party’s agenda.
While Republicans are largely against confirming Jackson as the next high court justice, there are limited tactics available to stymie her process moving forward. And ranking committee Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley has dismissed any notion of a boycott over her process.
Even if a boycott were staged, Democrats could still advance Jackson’s nomination, and it would likely be contested at first for violating Senate rules. Democrats could hold a majority vote to override the rules, a similar move exercised in 2020 by then-Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham to advance Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination despite a Democratic boycott.
