More than two dozen conservatives are rallying behind Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court.
Twenty-seven conservative leaders signed a statement in support of Lee, including Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah, Conservative Partnership Institute Chairman Jim DeMint, and FreedomWorks President Adam Brandon.
“Sen. Lee has a proven record of standing up for principle, for doing the right thing for the right reasons, even in the face of withering criticism,” the letter states. “And that’s what this nominee is in for.”
[Ted Cruz: Mike Lee ‘the single best choice’ to replace Anthony Kennedy on Supreme Court]
The statement warns the confirmation battle to replace Kennedy is likely to be the “roughest fight Washington has seen in decades,” and notes that a Supreme Court with a conservative majority will make decisions that invite a host of criticism.
“This is not an assignment for the faint of heart. We need a Supreme Court justice who is not only wise and principled, but brave,” the conservatives continued in their letter. “Mike Lee is one candidate on the president’s list who has proven to be all three.”
Kennedy announced last week he is stepping down from the Supreme Court after 30 years. Trump vowed to select a successor to Kennedy from a list of 25, which includes Lee, and will announce his nominee Monday.
The president spoke with Lee about the nomination earlier this week, his office and the White House said.
In addition to the conservative leaders, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is backing Lee for a nomination to the Supreme Court, writing in an op-ed his Senate colleague is “a sure-thing, battle-tested, ready, and willing to serve.”
Despite the public campaign in support of Lee, federal appeals court judges Brett Kavanaugh, Raymond Kethledge, and Amy Coney Barrett are reportedly leading the field of Supreme Court contenders.
[Also read: Trump narrows field of possible Supreme Court nominees to three]
