Senate Republicans are expected to avoid a battle over Feinstein’s seat.
Republicans in the Senate Reject Assumptions of Blocking Replacement for Sen. Dianne Feinstein
Several Republicans in the Senate have firmly rejected the assumptions that they would take an unprecedented step in blocking any replacement for Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) on the Senate Judiciary Committee, should she resign before the end of her term.
Left-wing Democrats in Congress have urged Feinstein to step down after her prolonged absence due to a shingles infection. However, prominent Democrats have encouraged Feinstein to retain her seat, expressing concerns that Republicans might exploit the opportunity to impede judicial nominees.
Republicans Vow Not to Block the Seat
Republicans on the committee have made it clear that they would not block the seat, despite previously blocking a resolution to temporarily assign it to Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) in April. At the time, Republicans argued that it would be disrespectful to Feinstein to give away her seat while she was still a member of the Senate.
“We couldn’t do that,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), former committee leader. “Once they’re seated, we would accept it, as long as it isn’t done for political purposes.”
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), another committee member, also dismissed the idea of blocking a permanent replacement, emphasizing that Democrats deserve the committee majority because they hold the Senate majority.
“I don’t know why that would be a problem,” Hawley stated. “Because they have a majority, they’re entitled to a one-seat vote majority on that committee, so it’s unclear to me how we could prevent them from having that.”
Even Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who opposed Cardin’s temporary replacement, expressed his support for replacing Feinstein on the committee if she chooses to resign.
“If she does resign, I would be in the camp of following the precedent of the Senate, replacing the person, consistent with what we have done in the past,” Graham told CNN in April.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) declined to engage in hypothetical scenarios, particularly since Feinstein has repeatedly stated that she will not resign before 2025. Cruz affirmed that he takes Feinstein “at her word” regarding her decision not to resign.
The return of the California Democrat to the Senate in May has given Democrats the power to advance the nominations of certain judicial nominees referred by President Joe Biden.
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