Sen. Collins, Fighting For Re-Election, Announces She Will Vote Against Judge Barrett’s Confirmation

Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins issued a statement yesterday that she intended to vote against the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.

Collins said in the statement that “Prior to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death, I stated that, should a vacancy on the Supreme Court arise, the Senate should follow the precedent set four years ago and not vote on a nominee prior to the presidential election.”

“Because this vote is occurring prior to the election, I will vote against the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett,” she added.

The statement also noted that her vote against confirming Judge Barrett to is not meant as a slight against the jurist but instead is a matter of “being fair and consistent.”

Conservative activist Dinesh D’Souza attempted to soften the blow in a tweet saying, “I’m not mad at Susan Collins. I would rather she vote against Amy Coney Barrett and get re-elected, than vote for her and get defeated. We needed Collins’s vote for Kavanaugh; we don’t need her for this one.”

I’m not mad at Susan Collins. I would rather she vote against Amy Coney Barrett and get re-elected, than vote for her and get defeated. We needed Collins’s vote for Kavanaugh; we don’t need her for this one #Realpolitik101

— Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) October 25, 2020

Collins is now expected to be the only Republican to vote against President Trump’s pick to the high court after Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced that she would vote to confirm the judge.

A poll released last week showed that Collins’ opponent, Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon, held a seven point lead to unseat the four term Senator.