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The vote to advance the nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court ended in deadlock on Monday, setting up a procedural vote on the Senate floor. The Senate judiciary committee voted 11-11 on whether to advance Jackson’s nomination to succeed retiring Justice Stephen Breyer on the high court with all of the Democrats on the panel voting in favor of President Joe Biden’s selection, while all 11 Republicans opposed.
Following the vote, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer moved to discharge the nomination of Jackson and send it to a vote by the full Senate, which will require 51 votes. In order for the measure to pass the evenly split Senate, the vote would have to receive the support of all Democrats in the chamber and at least one Republican. Jackson’s confirmation is expected to receive the support of every Democrat in the full Senate. Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine last week said that she will vote to confirm Jackson, and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who has often sided with Republicans on various issues, has also said he’ll vote to confirm Jackson.
If confirmed, Jackson would assume her seat on the Supreme Court when Breyer retires after its current term ends in June. She is the first Black woman ever nominated for the high court.
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