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New Mexico Democrat Sen. Ben Ray Lujan has suffered a stroke and had to undergo brain surgery.
While all thoughts and prayer should be for his full and speedy recovery, there are some politics at play here as well.
President Joe Biden needs a minimum of 50 Senators to vote for his Supreme Court pick with Vice President Kamala Harris serving as the tiebreaker.
“He is currently being cared for at UNM Hospital, resting comfortably, and expected to make a full recovery,” his chief of staff Carlos Sanchez said. “The senator’s offices remain open and will continue providing constituent services to all New Mexicans without any interruption. The senator and his family would like to thank the wonderful doctors and staff at both UNM Hospital and Christus St. Vincent Regional Hospital for their excellent care during this time. Senator Luján looks forward to getting back to work for the people of New Mexico. At this time, he and his family would appreciate their privacy, and ask for your continued prayers and well wishes.”
The New York Times reported:
Several Democrats said on Tuesday that they were relieved that Mr. Luján would recover, but declined to comment on the political implications of Mr. Luján’s stroke, telling reporters they were concerned primarily about his health and were still processing the news.
“It’s hard to evaluate what it means for here,” said Senator Bob Casey, Democrat of Pennsylvania. “On the human level, it’s scary. It just reminds all of us how good health is something we hope to be blessed by.”
Mr. Luján joined the Senate last year, taking the open seat of the retiring Senator Tom Udall after a dozen years in the House, where he had been seen as an eventual potential replacement for Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
In his first year in the Senate, Mr. Luján introduced a version of the Native American Voting Rights Act, a bill that aims to ease barriers to voting access for Native Americans, a key constituency in his state.
Senate Majority Leader and New York Sen. Charles Schumer was one of the first to respond.
“My thoughts are with Senator Ben Ray Luján and his family. I’m so glad to hear that he will make a full recovery. We look forward to his quick return to the Senate,” he said.
My thoughts are with Senator Ben Ray Luján and his family. I’m so glad to hear that he will make a full recovery. We look forward to his quick return to the Senate. https://t.co/vDSXG6JF72
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 1, 2022
CNN reporter Morgan Rimmer noted the first, of what could be many issues for Democrats in his absence.
“Cantwell, chair of Senate Commerce, says that committee votes on the FCC and FTC nominees will ‘have to wait until Senator Luján gets back,’ underscoring again how difficult it is to balance a 50/50 Senate, down to the committee level,” the reporter said.
Cantwell, chair of Senate Commerce, says that committee votes on the FCC and FTC nominees will “have to wait until Senator Luján gets back,” underscoring again how difficult it is to balance a 50/50 Senate, down to the committee level
— Morgan Rimmer (@morgan_rimmer) February 2, 2022
But if Democrats are concerned about their Supreme Court nominee, Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham may offer some help.
Sen. Graham took the extra step of getting his RINO cred on the CBS News show “Face The Nation” on Sunday when he hinted that he would vote for President Joe Biden’s Supreme Court nominee if it is South Carolina Federal District Judge Michelle Childs.
“I can’t think of a better person for President Biden to consider for the Supreme Court than Michelle Childs. She has wide support in our state. She’s considered to be a fair minded, highly gifted jurist. She’s one of the most decent people I’ve ever met. It would be good for the court to have somebody who’s not at Harvard or Yale. She’s a graduate of the University of South Carolina, a public education background. She’s been a workers comp judge. She’s highly qualified. She’s a good character. And we’ll see how she does if she’s nominated. But I cannot say anything bad about Michelle Childs. She is an awesome person,” he said.
Lindsey Graham backs Biden’s pledge to automatically pick a black woman, says it will “make the court look more like America” pic.twitter.com/odpdXKoves
— Jewish Patriot (@MAGAJew2) January 30, 2022
Host Margaret Brennan asked the senator if that meant he would be a “yes” vote if she is the nominee.
“If she’s nominated, she will not be treated like Judge Kavanaugh, I promise you, by Republicans. Let’s see how she does at the hearing. But I think I’ve made it pretty clear that I’m a big admirer of Judge Charles. And I’d like to see the court have- a have a lot more balance, some common sense on it. Everybody doesn’t have to be from Harvard, Yale– It’s okay to go to a public university and get your law degree,” he said.
