Missouri’s Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill says she will vote against the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, depriving President Donald Trump’s nominee of a possible swing vote.
McCaskill calls the recent sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh troubling, but says she based her decision on the judge’s views on issues like presidential power and “dark money” in campaigns.
McCaskill is the first of five undecided Senate Democrats in competitive re-election races to come out against Kavanaugh.
Her decision had been awaited by those watching her close re-election battle with Republican Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley, who has urged Kavanaugh’s swift confirmation.
A vote on Kavanaugh has been delayed by the accusation from professor Christine Blasey Ford that he sexually assaulted her when they were teens. Kavanaugh says that accusation is false.
