Senate Republicans appear to have locked up the votes needed to take up a Supreme Court nominee this year after Sen. Mitt Romney announced Tuesday he backs the move.
“I intend to follow the Constitution and precedent in considering the president’s nominee,” Romney, a Utah Republican, said in a statement. “If the nominee reaches the Senate floor, I intend to vote based upon their qualifications.”
Romney’s support means Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell won’t need a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Mike Pence to advance a nominee to the floor.
Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said they do not back voting on a Supreme Court nominee so close to the Nov. 3 election.
But Republicans control 53 votes and can advance a nominee without Collins and Murkowski.
Romney was the last known holdout among Senate Republicans weighing whether to advance a nominee.
President Trump said he’d make an announcement about his pick by this weekend, and McConnell said he would bring the nominee to the floor for a vote this year, although he did not say whether it would occur before or after the election.
