Sen. Sherrod Brown met with Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh this week, but the Ohio Democrat refused to make a decision on his vote yet.
“I’m already very troubled by the Supreme Court’s recent decisions stripping rights from Ohioans, and I have serious concerns about some of Judge Kavanaugh’s rulings and positions on health care for Ohioans with pre-existing conditions, and the rights of Ohio workers, women, and consumers,” Mr. Brown said in a statement.
Mr. Brown said there is more to “carefully consider” before committing to a vote.
The senator is one of the Democrats up for re-election in a state that President Trump won during the 2016 election.
His Republican opponent Jim Renacci is using the confirmation issue to try and score political points. Mr. Brown’s decision is being framed as an issue of allegiance to party over the Constitution.
If Brown ignores Kavanaugh’s highly regarded record & tries to block @POTUS’s #SCOTUS nominee, it’s 1 more signal Brown cares more abt representing the fringe left than OH. We deserve a Senator who reveres the Constitution more than they revere Schumer. #OHSen #ConfirmKavanaugh pic.twitter.com/NeT612LgjN
— Jim Renacci (@JimRenacci) July 11, 2018
Vice President Mike Pence weighed in on the race and the confirmation controversy during his recent trip to Cincinnati.
“Senator, give our nominee a fair hearing and the support he deserves. If Sherrod Brown won’t vote to confirm a judge like Brett Kavanaugh, Ohio needs to send us a new Senator who will,” Mr. Pence said, according to a National Republican Senatorial Committee press release.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.
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