Senate GOP to Block Democrats’ Plan to Temporarily Replace Feinstein on Judiciary Committee

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 7, 2023. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

It appears that the 11 GOP votes needed to join all present Senate Democrats in temporarily replacing Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) on the Senate Judiciary Committee are not there.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has proposed a resolution that would put a Democrat on the committee to temporarily take Feinstein’s seat given the senator’s weeks-long absence as she has been dealing with shingles. Feinstein has reportedly agreed to this move. However, with Democrats controlling the Senate, 50–49, such a resolution will need the support of 11 Republicans in order to overcome a filibuster. Schumer has said he will try to have the resolution passed via unanimous consent, which any one member can object to.