WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., announced Thursday he will vote to confirm Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court.
“After considering his record, watching his testimony in front of the Judiciary Committee and meeting with him twice, I will vote to confirm him to be the ninth justice on the Supreme Court,” Manchin said in a statement.
President Donald Trump announced Gorsuch, a federal appeals judge, as his nominee Jan. 31 for the seat held by late Justice Antonin Scalia.
Gorsuch was appointed to the 10th District Court of Appeals in 2006.
“During his time on the bench Judge Gorsuch has received praise from his colleagues who have been appointed by both Democrats and Republicans,” Manchin said.
Senator Heidi Heitkamp, D-North Dakota, also announced her decision to back Gorsuch Thursday.
Sixty senators would have to vote in favor of confirming Gorsuch’s nomination. This means all 52 Republican senators would have to approve, as well as at least eight Democrats.
According to The Hill, 33 Democrats have said they would vote against the confirmation.
Republicans have threatened to change the vote to only require a 51-vote majority to pass.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to vote April 3 on whether or not to confirm Gorsuch. The full chamber vote is scheduled for April 7.