New Arizona Senator Could Help Choose Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Replacement

Mark Kelly, Democratic nominee for Senate in Arizona, is running against incumbent Republican Senator Martha McSally—polls show Kelly with a wide, 10-point lead over McSally, up five points from last month.

McSally was appointed to the seat by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey after Sen. Jon Kyl, who filled Sen. John McCain’s seat after he passed away, stepped down.

This is a special election for the last two years of McCain’s last term, which means if Kelly takes the seat, he could be sworn in as early as Nov. 30, when state election results are expected to be tallied, reducing the Republican’s 53-47 majority in the Senate (assuming a vote on a Supreme Court nominee is delayed until after the election).

Republicans need a simple majority, 51 votes, to confirm a Supreme Court nominee.

Shortly after Ginsburg passed away, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) released a statement, vowing to hold a vote for President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court, though some Republicans have already suggested they won’t vote for a replacement this year.

McSally echoed McConnell last night tweeting, “The U.S. Senate should vote on President Trump’s next nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court.”