NEWS: Joe Manchin is open to confirming Democratic judges who get NO GOP support, he told me today.
He previously pledged to only vote for nominees who can get at least one Republican vote.
"We're in different times right now" he told me.
Twitter•Today at 3:40 PM Eastern
Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.V.) suggested Thursday that he is open to voting for Democratic judicial nominees, even if they can't secure any Republican support.
Why it matters: Manchin pledged in the past he would only vote for nominees who could get at least one GOP vote. His reversal could be key to Democrats reaching a key milestone on federal judges.
- Manchin told Axios that "we're in different times right now" when asked about his previous pledge, adding that "my Republican friends are under the microscope."
- Manchin's vote is critical for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to confirm nominees in a 51-49 Senate. Judicial confirmations are the top priority for Schumer through the end of the year.
- Schumer told Senate Democrats in a private lunch Thursday that he is planning to move on more judges and told his caucus to prepare to be in town for long weeks, sources familiar with the meeting said.
- Manchin's position was first reported Thursday on "X" by Semafor's Burgess Everett.
