Two Democrats from conservative states announced yesterday that that they will vote to confirm Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) announced their support for Gorsuch, saying that he impressed them during his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“He has a record as a balance, meticulous, and well-respected jurist who understand the rule of law and, as a Coloradan, the judge would bring a needed Western perspective to the high court,” Heitkamp said. Manchin praised Judge Gorsuch extensive education and legal career and found him to be “an honest and thoughtful man.”
Senators Manchin and Heitkamp had been among several Democrats that Republicans have been eyeing as possible supporters of Judge Gorsuch. Each come from a state that President Trump easily won and Manchin and Heitkamp are up for re-election next year.
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) has been working to rally Democrats to support a filibuster of Judge Gorsch, saying that Gorsuch is outside the legal mainstream and has issued a series of troubling rulings. More than 30 Senators have come out against Judge Gorsuch and pledged support for the filibuster.
The Senate is expected to vote on Judge Gorsuch’s confirmation on April 7. However, other Democrats remain confident the he will not gain the support necessary to break a filibuster. To break the filibuster, at least eight Democratic Senators would need to join the Republicans’ 52-seat majority.
