Kavanaugh seems to be locking up the GOP swing votes

(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

published 4 October 2018

It's looking increasingly likely that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh will be successfully confirmed.

Senators received a report Thursday on the FBI's new background investigation into Kavanaugh, ordered in light of the multiple sexual misconduct allegations against him, which he has denied. Democrats immediately complained that the investigation was too limited, especially because it did not include an interview with Kavanaugh accuser Christine Blasey Ford. But what really matters for the nominee's confirmation prospects is how a handful of key Republican swing votes feel about it, as Kavanaugh will be confirmed as long as all 51 Republican senators remain united in their support for him.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

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.

Just as significant is the fact that Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), who demanded this investigation in the first place, agrees with Collins, also calling it thorough on Thursday, The Hill's Alex Bolton reports. Additionally, Flake said the probe reveals "no additional corroborating information," per CNN's Phil Mattingly. This would seem to suggest Flake will vote "yes," as he previously told The Atlantic he'd vote to confirm Kavanaugh unless the FBI turned something up.

Explore More

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.

Subscribe to The Week

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox