Could this Republican governor be Obama's SCOTUS nominee?
Despite the fact that Senate Republicans have vowed to not even hold hearings for any Obama nominee to replace Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who died earlier this month, the president is forging ahead. The Washington Post reports that Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) is being considered by the White House as a possible nominee to replace the late Scalia, who was the court's leading conservative voice.
But would the nomination of a moderate Republican like Sandoval change things for the Senate GOP? One Republican senator speaking off the record told The Washington Post that nominating Sandoval would "mix it up" for Republicans opposed to any Obama pick. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) — a centrist like Sandoval who is opposed to her party's strategy of blocking any Obama nomination — told The Washington Post that a potential Sandoval nomination "is one reason why I have not wanted to shut the door on considering a nominee."
"We may well be sent a nominee who is deserving of thorough vetting and consideration," Collins added.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
One individual who's signaled interest in a Sandoval nomination is the Nevada governor himself. Talking to The Morning Consult at a meeting of the National Governors Association in Washington, Sandoval said being considered "would be a privilege" and that the Supreme Court "is the essence of justice in this country."
Despite all this buzz, a number of Republican senators on the Judiciary Committee are saying that even if Sandoval were to be given the nomination, it wouldn't change their minds. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) was rather blunt in his assessment: "The short answer is no, it doesn't change anything."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Benjamin Shull is an assistant books editor with The Wall Street Journal and a contributor to The Week. Follow him on Twitter.
-
Roasted squash and apple soup recipeThe Week Recommends Autumnal soup is full of warming and hearty flavours
-
Ukraine: Donald Trump pivots againIn the Spotlight US president apparently warned Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept Vladimir Putin’s terms or face destruction during fractious face-to-face
-
Autumn Budget: will Rachel Reeves raid the rich?Talking Point To fill Britain’s financial black hole, the Chancellor will have to consider everything – except an income tax rise
-
NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges
-
Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction
-
Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters
-
Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deploymentSpeed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ ralliesSpeed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
