Mitt Romney backs US Supreme Court nominee vote, paving way for Republican confirmation

The Utah senator and former presidential candidate said he supports a vote on President Donald Trump’s nominee to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg

This all but ensures Trump’s choice will be confirmed, despite Democrats’ objections that it is too close to the US presidential election

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Republican senator Mitt Romney said he will vote if a Supreme Court nominee reaches the Senate floor, and that it is not ‘written in the stars’ that the court has a liberal bent. Photo: AP

Published: 11:41pm, 22 Sep 2020Updated: 2:35am, 23 Sep 2020

Republican Senator Mitt Romney of Utah said on Tuesday he supports voting to fill the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat on the US Supreme Court, all but ensuring President Donald Trump has the backing to push his choice to confirmation over Democratic objections that it is too close to the November election.

Romney told reporters that it is not “written in the stars” that the court will have a liberal bent and that with Trump’s nominee – still to be announced – it will become more conservative.

Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and the Democrats would need four Republican defections to block consideration. Two Republicans have said they oppose taking up a nomination at this time, but no others are in sight.

“If the nominee reaches the Senate floor, I intend to vote based upon their qualifications,” Romney said. Even if he and the other two should eventually vote against Trump’s nominee, Vice-President Mike Pence could break a 50-50 tie in Trump’s favour.

Trump is planning to announce his choice to replace the late Ginsburg on Saturday, setting off one of the quickest confirmation processes in modern times, with early voting for the presidential election already under way in several states.