Senate Republican Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander (Tenn.) announced Thursday that he will join five of his GOP colleagues in supporting Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court.Alexander, the No. 3 Senate Republican, is the first and only leader to endorse the nomination.“Even though Judge Sotomayor’s political and judicial philosophy may be different than mine, especially regarding Second Amendments rights, I will vote to confirm her because she is well qualified by experience, temperament, character and intellect to serve as an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court,— Alexander said in a floor statement.Sotomayor is expected to win the support of nearly all — if not all — of the Senate Democrats when the chamber votes to install her on the high court next week. The five other GOP Senators who have said they will vote in favor include Sens. Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Dick Lugar (Ind.), Mel Martinez (Fla.) and Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, both of Maine. Graham was the lone Republican on the Judiciary Committee to support the nomination when the panel voted, 13-6, earlier this week.Sotomayor would become the first Latina and third female to serve on the Supreme Court. She currently serves on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.