Congress
The Senate majority leader failed to unify his caucus on major party priorities, twice. Confirming a Supreme Court nominee could be an easier win.
With the nomination of Jackson to succeed Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court, Chuck Schumer is getting the unity opportunity he needs to jump-start Democrats’ agenda. | Andrew Harnik/AP Photo
By Burgess Everett
02/25/2022 04:07 PM EST
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There is no such thing as a slam-dunk Supreme Court confirmation in a 50-50 Senate. Ketanji Brown Jackson comes pretty close.
With the nomination of Jackson to succeed Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court, Chuck Schumer is getting the unity opportunity he needs to jump-start Democrats’ agenda. The Senate confirmed her just last year for a D.C. Circuit seat, and there is little consternation in the Democratic Caucus that she will fall short in her bid to join the high court.
The Senate majority leader’s two latest attempts at getting all 50 Democrats on the same page on major priorities proved fruitless and frustrating, as Democrats’ razor-thin majority fell short on enacting elections reform and installing new social and climate programs. But in Jackson, the Democratic Party has far better odds of coming together — allowing them to treat potential Republican support as a bonus, not an imperative.