Vice President Kamala Harris, the primary Black girl to carry the place and one among simply 11 Black senators in American historical past, presided over the vote to substantiate Choose Ketanji Brown Jackson as the primary Black girl on the Supreme Courtroom — one historic determine presiding over the elevation of one other.
However no Black girl had the chance to vote for the barrier-breaking nominee: None is at present a member of the 100-person chamber, which incorporates three Black males.
Within the early levels of Choose Jackson’s affirmation course of, Democrats and White Home officers had frightened that she may very well be the primary nominee in historical past to be confirmed with a tiebreaking vote by a vp, if Republicans united in opposition to her. However in the long run, Ms. Harris’s vote was not wanted to interrupt a tie within the evenly divided Senate as a result of three Republicans — Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Mitt Romney of Utah and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — supported the decide.
Nonetheless, her presence was hanging in a chamber that’s nonetheless largely white and male.
Of the 100 senators, solely 11 lawmakers determine as both Hispanic American, Asian American or Black in a Congress that’s the most racially and ethnically numerous in historical past.
The three Black males who serve within the Senate — Senators Cory Booker of New Jersey, Tim Scott of South Carolina and Raphael Warnock of Georgia — forged votes. Mr. Booker and Mr. Warnock, each Democrats, spoke of their pleasure they felt in supporting Choose Jackson’s nomination.
Mr. Scott, a Republican, mentioned he would oppose her primarily based on her judicial philosophy, although he acknowledged the historic nature of her affirmation.
Earlier than the vote, greater than two dozen members of the Congressional Black Caucus filed into the chamber to hearken to the ultimate speeches and watch the proceedings.
Supply: NY Times