Grassley, Gardner Support Voting on Supreme Court Nominee Before Election

Two Republican senators who Democrats hoped would oppose voting on a nominee for the vacant Supreme Court seat said Monday night they will consider President Donald Trump’s choice to replace late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. “When a President exercises constitutional authority to nominate a judge for the Supreme Court vacancy, the Senate must decide how to best fulfill its constitutional duty of advice and consent,” Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) wrote in a statement. “I have and will continue to support judicial nominees who will protect our Constitution, not legislate from the bench, and uphold the law. Should a qualified nominee who meets this criteria be put forward, I will vote to confirm.” Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) issued a similar statement, saying he would consider Trump’s nominee because both Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) support quickly replacing Ginsburg. “Once a [hearing] is under …