Of five key senators, three supported the nomination, and two opposed it.
Heitkamp
D-N.D.
Opposes
Manchin III
D-W.Va.
Supports
Collins
R-Maine
Supports
Flake
R-Ariz.
Supports
Murkowski
R-Alaska
Opposes
On Friday vote to advance nomination
Heitkamp
Opposed
Manchin III
Supported
Collins
Supported
Flake
Supported
Murkowski
Opposed
With a 50-48 vote, the Senate confirmed Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Sen. Joe Manchin III (W. Va.) was the only Democrat to vote for Kavanaugh. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) voted “present” and Republican Sen. Steve Daines (Mont.) was absent.
Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance the nomination of Kavanaugh in an 11-to-10 vote along party lines, but Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and other Republicans joined Democrats to demand a brief FBI investigation before the full Senate vote. The Senate Judiciary Committee held an eight-hour hearing Sept. 27 about the allegations of Christine Blasey Ford, who accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her.
Where senators stand
Oppose the nomination 49
Undecided or unclear 0
Support the nomination 51
These senators have said they will or are likely to vote against Kavanaugh’s confirmation.
These senators are undecided about whether they will support the nomination, or have not made clear how they will vote.
These senators have said they will or are likely to vote for the nomination.
Murkowski voted against proceeding to the final confirmation vote — the only Republican to vote “no.” She said, “I believe that Brett Kavanaugh is a good man. I believe he is a good man. It just may be that in my view he's not the right man for the court at this time.” Read more »
Donnelly supported Neil M. Gorsuch, Trump’s first Supreme Court nominee. "The allegations made against Judge Kavanaugh are disturbing and credible," he said in a statement Friday. "If Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination comes before the full Senate for a vote under these circumstances, I will oppose it." Read more »
Heitkamp told WDAY News that she intends to vote “no” on the nomination. She supported Neil M. Gorsuch, Trump’s first Supreme Court nominee. Read more »
Tester expressed “deep concerns” about assault allegations against Kavanaugh in a statement on Friday. “Unfortunately, Judge Kavanaugh couldn’t find time to discuss these concerns with me in person, so the only information I have is from what he said in his hearings,” he said. “I’ll be voting against him.” Read more »
“I have found Judge Kavanaugh to be a qualified jurist,” Manchin said in a statement released after Collins announced her support of the nomination. He voted to proceed to the final confirmation vote — the only Democrat to do so. He backed Trump’s first nominee for the Court and was the first Democratic senator to meet with Kavanaugh, but he has not publicly announced how he will vote. Read more »
Collins announced in a floor speech on Friday that she would support Kavanaugh’s confirmation, saying “I do not believe these charges can fairly prevent Judge Kavanaugh from serving on the court.” She said Thursday that the FBI investigation “appears to be a very thorough investigation, but I’m going back later to personally read the interviews.” Read more »
Flake voted to proceed to the final confirmation vote. He said Friday he is planning to vote for the nomination unless something changes, but that he doesn't expect anything to change. Following release of the FBI report, he said “We’ve seen no additional corroborating information.” Flake pushed for the investigation last week after initially announcing his intention to support the nominee. Read more »
Oppose the nomination 49
Undecided or unclear 0
Support the nomination 51
Oppose the nomination 49
These senators have said they will or are likely to vote against Kavanaugh’s confirmation.
Murkowski voted against proceeding to the final confirmation vote — the only Republican to vote “no.” She said, “I believe that Brett Kavanaugh is a good man. I believe he is a good man. It just may be that in my view he's not the right man for the court at this time.” Read more »
Donnelly supported Neil M. Gorsuch, Trump’s first Supreme Court nominee. "The allegations made against Judge Kavanaugh are disturbing and credible," he said in a statement Friday. "If Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination comes before the full Senate for a vote under these circumstances, I will oppose it." Read more »
Heitkamp told WDAY News that she intends to vote “no” on the nomination. She supported Neil M. Gorsuch, Trump’s first Supreme Court nominee. Read more »
Tester expressed “deep concerns” about assault allegations against Kavanaugh in a statement on Friday. “Unfortunately, Judge Kavanaugh couldn’t find time to discuss these concerns with me in person, so the only information I have is from what he said in his hearings,” he said. “I’ll be voting against him.” Read more »
Undecided or unclear 0
These senators are undecided about whether they will support the nomination, or have not made clear how they will vote.
Support the nomination 51
These senators have said they will or are likely to vote for the nomination.
“I have found Judge Kavanaugh to be a qualified jurist,” Manchin said in a statement released after Collins announced her support of the nomination. He voted to proceed to the final confirmation vote — the only Democrat to do so. He backed Trump’s first nominee for the Court and was the first Democratic senator to meet with Kavanaugh, but he has not publicly announced how he will vote. Read more »
Collins announced in a floor speech on Friday that she would support Kavanaugh’s confirmation, saying “I do not believe these charges can fairly prevent Judge Kavanaugh from serving on the court.” She said Thursday that the FBI investigation “appears to be a very thorough investigation, but I’m going back later to personally read the interviews.” Read more »
Flake voted to proceed to the final confirmation vote. He said Friday he is planning to vote for the nomination unless something changes, but that he doesn't expect anything to change. Following release of the FBI report, he said “We’ve seen no additional corroborating information.” Flake pushed for the investigation last week after initially announcing his intention to support the nominee. Read more »
Seung Min Kim and Amber Phillips contributed to this report.
About this story
Stances on the bill are sourced from lawmaker statements and news reports. Did we miss something? Let us know!
Legislator images via Government Printing Office.
Kavanaugh promo photo by Andrew Harnik/AP.
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