Democrats on Capitol Hill are concerned that the delay by President Barack Obama in announcing a nominee to the Supreme Court may signal that their most desired candidates fear being attacked by Republicans,
Politico reports.
Saturday will mark five weeks since the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, and Obama's two other nominees were named in a four-to-five-week window, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Monday. But he added that he had no "internal deadlines to share," and that a name may not be announced before Obama leaves Sunday for a five-day trip to Cuba and Argentina.
The Senate itself will be in recess for two weeks starting next week.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid indicated he'd like to see something happen soon — or even sooner.
"I want it last week," Reid told Politico.
"I wouldn’t be surprised if it's this week," Sen. Patrick Leahy, who is the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee said. "You know the president goes to Cuba this weekend."
Earnest insisted to reporters that there will be plenty of time to confirm a nominee before the court's October session begins, noting that it typically takes 67 days for a confirmation.
But some Democrats fear that Republican threats to "piñata" any nominee are frightening away candidates who might have a better chance at being named later when their chances are better.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell quickly vowed to stop any Obama nominee from replacing the conservative stalwart Scalia as a presidential election looms in November. But Republicans have since tempered their rhetoric, while still promising to prevent a shift in the court before the voters decide who will sit in the Oval Office in January.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.