SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - San Diego political analyst John Dadian weighed in Friday morning on the Senate's 51-49 vote to send Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh into the final stages of his potential confirmation.
Kavanaugh now must only secure a majority in a confirmation vote, which could occur as soon as Saturday, experts predict. In case of a tie, the deciding vote would come from Vice President Mike Pence.
Dadian said having such a tight vote for a Supreme Court nominee is unprecedented.
"We're talking about 51 (votes), possibly even 50 with the vice president casting the breaking, we've just never seen it," he said. "Unfortunately I think you might be seeing the trend that's going to last for several years."
Dadian said that based on the results of Friday's cloture vote, it appears all but certain that Kavanaugh will be confirmed.
"Clearly it looks like (Kavanaugh is) going to pass unless something happens in the next 24 hours, which again, certainly could happen."
President Donald Trump's nominee has been met with fierce contention from Democratic party members and increased further after multiple women stepped forward with allegations of sexual assault against the embattled judge.
"It's a different world we're living in," Dadian said. "Two of the justices that are considered on the fringes of their parties, (Antonin Scalia) was considered very conservative, he got 98 votes, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, considered extremely liberal, she got 96 votes."
If Kavanaugh is confirmed, he will be the second judge added to the highest court in the United States since Trump took office, following the appointment of Justice Neil Gorsuch in April 2017.
Dadian said he does not expect Kavanaugh to be the last judge the president nominates.
"I said during the campaign before Trump was even sworn in, that the president who serves this term for four years will possibly get three appointments," he said. "I think you might see another appointment within the next 12 months."
The Senate appears to be at never-before-seen odds with November midterm elections right around the corner, but Dadian said the Democrat's fierce opposition is not about timing, but rather, the president.
"For the midterm elections, I think the issue is going to be Trump," he said. "It's not so much as far as where the court's going or stalling to get a Democrat on the court if the House flips."
