Republicans in the Senate successfully voted to end debate on the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to become the next Supreme Court Justice, 88 days after President Donald Trump first nominated him to the nation’s highest court.
The final vote was 51-49.
This vote means that the Senate can proceed to the actual confirmation vote on Saturday. It is unclear that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will have the votes to confirm Kavanaugh.
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted no on this morning’s cloture vote, which means she most likely will vote against confirming Kavanaugh.
Among those voting to allow the final confirmation vote to take place were Senator Susan Collins, the Maine Republican considered a swing vote. Collins says she is pro-choice, but has claimed, despite evidence to the contrary, that she believes Kavanaugh would not overturn Roe v. Wade.
At 3 PM Collins will announce on the Senate floor how she will vote on Saturday.
Other critical swing voters are Sen. Joe Manchin, Democrat of West Virginia, voted yes, and Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ), who is not seeking re-election, also voted yes on cloture.