GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski explains her vote against Kavanaugh: This is 'bigger than a nominee'

(Image credit: Al Drago/Getty Images)

published 5 October 2018

After being the lone dissenting Republican in the 51-49 vote to advance Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to a full Senate vote, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) seemed to say she'll repeat that decision in a full vote slated for Saturday. "I believe Brett Kavanaugh is a good man,” Murkowski explained to reporters after the controversial vote, but added that she "believe[s] we are dealing with issues right now that are bigger than a nominee."

Murkowski, meanwhile, has "been wrestling with whether or not this was about the qualifications of a good man or is this bigger than the nominee," she told reporters Friday, adding that she "did not come to a decision on this until walking into the floor this morning." Reuters has interpreted her comments to mean "she had not made up her mind" on a final vote. Murkowski did say she'll expand on her decision in a floor statement later.

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Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.

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