We thought we were in the home stretch of the 2020 campaign season, with the primaries over and early voting beginning, and then on Sept. 18, another political earthquake shook us when Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died.
Democratic fundraising spiked to the stratosphere, senators prepared for possible hearings and floor votes in October — virtually unheard of in an election year — and several Republicans in tough reelection races find themselves having to address an issue whose impact in close contests is as yet unclear. Just ask Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who will preside over any hearings for a high court nominee. Or ask Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, whose vote to confirm Brett M. Kavanaugh to the court in 2018 was already an issue in her race.
Two of CQ Roll Call’s senior staff writers, who used to team up to cover Senate leadership back in the day, discuss the implications for the Senate as an institution, as well as the effects on 2020 campaigns. Niels Lesniewski and Bridget Bowman discuss what we know, what we don’t know and what we’ll be watching in the coming days and weeks about the latest Supreme Court news.
Show Notes:
- Supreme Court fight jolts battle for the Senate
- Supreme Court fight underscores campaign trail focus on health care
- Democrats keep edge in fight for Senate amid growing GOP headache
- Is there enough time to confirm a Supreme Court nominee by November?
- Paying respects to RBG this week? Here’s what you need to know
- Photo: R.B.G. Respect
- She was selling RBG greeting cards. Then she heard from RBG
- Trump to announce SCOTUS pick Saturday, with Senate GOP moving ahead with vote
- Capitol Ink | RBG
- Supreme Court expected to forge ahead with eight justices after Ginsburg’s death
- Why Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death is unlikely to shake up the presidential race
- Podcast: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Unlikely Pop Icon
- Photos: Washington mourns death of Supreme Court icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg
