Red-state Democrat Sen. Joe Donnelly is a 'no' on Kavanaugh

One potential swing voter is a "no" on confirming Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh — and he's likely bringing three other mystery voters with him.

Sen. Joe Donnelly (Ind.), a red-state Democrat with a shaky hold on his seat this fall, announced Friday that he will oppose Kavanaugh's confirmation if it "comes before the full Senate" before an FBI investigation. In his statement, Donnelly blamed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for his vote, saying the leader "refused to allow" an FBI probe into Kavanaugh's sexual assault allegations "despite having the time and opportunity to do so."

Donnelly was one of six senators whose votes were still up in the air as Kavanaugh's testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee wound down Thursday. One of them, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), solidified his vote for Kavanaugh on Friday morning. Meanwhile, Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) are expected to vote in a bloc with Donnelly, Politico reported — and now, with a clear view of where one of those tight-knit senators stands, it seems possible that Murkowski and Collins will deliver Democrats a blocked confirmation.

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