The most important thing about keeping the Senate to me was JUDGES!
The ability of President Biden to nominate judges uninterrupted for the next two years.
If Warnock wins the Georgia runoff, Schumer can pick up the pace of judicial confirmations. No more Senate Judiciary Committee deadlocks that force Democrats to waste time on floor votes for discharge petitions. 51-49 would be huge.
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) November 13, 2022
FYI: There are currently 85 federal appellate and district court openings that @POTUS will now be able to fill. pic.twitter.com/i1ZT7vFZ8k
— Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) November 13, 2022
There is so much difference between having 50 and 51 votes (without Vice-President Harris).
Let’s get into it:
Here's why 51 is much better than 50, even if we don't keep the House. And no, it's not (mostly), about Manchin and Sinema.
Right now, with a tied Senate, we govern with a power share agreement, where Republicans get an equal split with Democrats on committee membership 1/
— What Biden Has Done (@What46HasDone) November 13, 2022
Number 2 isn't theoretical. They have done it a couple of times this Congress, including to block a Fed pick. They would absolutely use it again in a major situation (such as to prevent an SC replacement for a Conservative judge).
51 Senators gives Dems majority on committees 3/
— What Biden Has Done (@What46HasDone) November 13, 2022
Lastly, it does protect against a rogue vote. Sinema and Manchin were very good in judges this year. They supported every one of President Biden's nominees, including the ones that got passed on a party line vote.
But past performance doesn't indicate future results. 5/
— What Biden Has Done (@What46HasDone) November 13, 2022
That's two more years of judges appointed by Biden.
Keep in mind, one thing that Biden has been very different on than his predecessors (including Obama) is the professional background of his appointees, notably many more public defenders.
— Taniel (@Taniel) November 13, 2022
IMPORTANT: If @ReverendWarnock wins the Georgia Senate runoff, it will allow Majority Leader Schumer to speed up federal judicial confirmations. Dems will have the majority on committees, so the Judiciary Committee won’t have to waste time on floor votes for discharge petitions.
— Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) November 13, 2022
This isn’t correct
What we get is the opportunity to play them off each other & not hide behind the other. https://t.co/lxRg9a8cgT
— Dana Houle (@DanaHoule) November 14, 2022
Underrated news for Democrats today: With Senate control retained and control of the entire PA Senate delegation it means they no longer have to follow their 3:1 district court judge deal with Toomey. All district court judges for the next two years will be Democratic picks
— Blake Allen (@Blake_Allen13) November 13, 2022
Three huge differences between a 50-50 and 51-49 D majority:
1) Having a majority on each Committee versus power sharing/deadlocks requiring discharge petitions;
2) No single D Senator can hijack/block nominations; and
3) Ds can have *two* members absent and still hold votes.
— Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) November 13, 2022