U.S. Sens. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) both say they'll vote for President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee before the Nov. 3 election.
The death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg opened a vacancy on the court less than a month and a half before the 2020 general election.
Democrats urge the GOP Senate to wait before voting on a replacement. They cite how Republicans blocked President Obama’s nominee in 2016.
But Braun said he doesn’t think Trump’s as-yet unannounced nominee should be delayed.
“We do control the presidency and the Senate," Braun said. "And I think for the majority of Hoosiers that elected me, they’d be disappointed if we didn’t do it.”
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Four years ago, when he was running for the Senate, Young said the American people should weigh in before the Senate voted on a Supreme Court nominee. It was about “principle and process,” he said.
Now, he’s ready to move forward.
“We will act because the American people want us to act," Young said. "The people of Indiana, in particular, want me to act.”
Braun doesn’t see an electoral downside – he said the nomination could be a "catapult" for Republicans on the ballot.
“This not only helps key Senate races, it also has that synergistic effect of helping the president, as well,” Braun said.
Young said any of the candidates for the position Trump has proposed in recent weeks would be strong nominees. He singled out Amy Coney Barrett, a federal appellate judge from Indiana.
It’s likely there are enough Senate votes to approve the nomination.
Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.
