Alabama Senator Doug Jones (D) announced on Friday that he will oppose President Trump’s eventual nominee to replace former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has the votes to proceed with the confirmation of the president’s pick, which will be announced on Saturday.
When elected in 2017, Jones vowed to rise above partisan tactics, but has sided with Democrat leadership overwhelmingly during his time in the Senate. Jones voted for the hyper partisan impeachment and against the landmark middle class tax cuts passed by Senate Republicans in 2017
Jones said that he would not support confirming a nominee before November’s general election:
More Jones:
— Jordain Carney (@jordainc) September 25, 2020
"I will certainly give that nominee a careful consideration and full and fair hearing after the election if Donald Trump is re-elected"
Jones holds one of Democrats’ most vulnerable seats on the Senate map in November, in a deep red state, but signaled his opposition to President Trump’s eventual nominee before she is even named, as the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) notes:
"A nominee has yet to be named and Doug Jones is already opposing the pick. Refusing to take part in a consequential Supreme Court decision is the latest example that Jones has one foot out the door. He's clearly no longer focused on accurately representing the people of Alabama," said NRSC spokesperson Paige Lindgren.
Republicans are slated to take back Sen. Jones seat in November; the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the race as “Lean Republican.” President Trump carried Alabama by 28 points in 2016.