The case of Roe vs. Wade will likely be challenged at some point, and while Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy's replacement may make the "entire difference" in changing the law, the new justice will represent a "big step in that direction," Sen. Mike Rounds said Thursday.
"I don't think it will happen as quickly as some people think it might," the South Dakota Republican told CNN's "New Day."
"The folks who want to further restrict abortions, and I'm one of them, I am pro-life, I think the way that we do it will make a big difference in terms of how we present a case to the United States Supreme Court in order to have an appropriate outcome."
Rounds said he was having lunch with other Republicans on Wednesday when the news of Kennedy's retirement broke, "and it was jubilation, it was applause. It was an opportunity to actually make history again."
Republicans believe they are moving the country with the circuit court judges that are being put in place, "and this one more opportunity to change for generations to come the way that the Supreme Court interprets rather than makes laws," Rounds added.
Democrats in the Senate are arguing that the vote to confirm Kennedy's replacement should wait until after the midterm elections, in a move similar to when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked former President Barack Obama's nominee, Merrick Garland, but Rounds disagreed.
"It's the best argument they've got, but it's not going to fly," he said. "We were talking about presidential election years; they're talking about any election year. If you suggested or if there was any reason for that, it would mean 50 percent of the time they would not be considering these [nominees]."
Further, a great deal has changed since Obama was elected in 2012, said Rounds, "signaling a shift in Americans' views in our president and his philosophy of governing. You don't need to look any further than the 2014 elections for proof."
Show co-host John Berman argued that Trump's approval rating is around 40 percent, and asked if the American public should be able to weigh in on a nominee through their votes for members of Congress will make the decision, but Rounds said the reality is, Trump will make a nomination shortly.
"We believe he has a good list," said Rounds. "The Senate will act in a timely fashion. I think all the rest of the discussion about whether it should be delayed or not delayed, I think that will quickly leave. Then we will start talking about the merits of the individual that will be put in front of us."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.