How McSally v. Kelly Became One of the Most Important Senate Races in the Nation
Ellie Bufkin
Posted: Sep 22, 2020 11:10 AM
As the nation looks toward the 100 members of Congress's upper chamber and counts how many votes would likely be cast toward the confirmation of President Trump's eventual nomination to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court, the balance seems to be in favor of the majority party.
But one vote hangs in the balance, underscoring a sense of urgency for the president to move forward with the nomination and for the Senate to act as quickly as possible to get that person onto the bench. For the moment, the Republicans hold a 53-47 advantage over the Democrats and the two Independent senators who caucus with them. But that majority, in which at least two Republican senators have indicated they would not support a nomination before the presidential inauguration in January, could shrink long before Congress's next session.
Martha McSally, who was appointed by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey to fill the late Sen. John McCain's seat in early 2019, is competing in a special election in her home state to officially take over the remainder of McCain's term. If she loses, her lame-duck session could end as early as November 20, giving her only a matter of days to participate in a post-election confirmation of the new Supreme Court justice.
In Arizona, the winner of the Senate special election will take office as soon as the election results are certified. Although the Georgia senate seat currently occupied by Kelly Loeffler (R) is also being fought over in a special election, the winner of that contest will not be sworn in until January.
more
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/elliebufkin/2020/09/22/mcsally-v-kelly-the-most-important-senate-race-in-the-nation-n2576647
