August
Metanoia
Collins is one of Republicans' most endangered members this Fall, as election forecasters say Democrats are likely to flip the seat.
Although initially signaling she would oppose Barrett and voted against proceeding to the final vote during a procedural measure over the weekend, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) ultimately flipped her stance and backed the nominee.
Democrats have decried the breakneck pace as "illegitimate" and hypocritical in an election year. Republicans blocked Obama nominee Merrick Garland in 2016, citing the proximity to Election Day. Obama nominated Garland 237 days before the election. Barrett was nominated by Trump just 38 days before this year's contest.
"Today, Monday, October 26, 2020, will go down as one of the darkest days in the 231-year history of the United States Senate," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a floor speech. "You may win this vote, and Amy Coney Barrett may become the next associate justice of the Supreme Court. But you will never—never—get your credibility back."
Barrett's confirmation to the high court marks the closest to an election—eight days—that the upper chamber has ever placed a new justice on the Supreme Court and will cement a 6-3 conservative slant for likely years to come. Barrett is the third Trump nominee to be confirmed to the Supreme Court.