Topline
U.S. voters are almost evenly divided on whether they back President Joe Biden naming a Black woman as his first nominee to the Supreme Court, a new Morning Consult poll finds—but Democrats overwhelmingly support it, suggesting the nominee could help the president’s tumbling approval ratings and boost enthusiasm for the midterm elections.
Key Facts
The poll, conducted January 28-30 among 2,005 registered voters, found 51% support Biden’s decision to appoint a Black woman, including 28% who strongly support it and 23% who somewhat support it.
Support was sharply divided along party lines, with 82% of Democrats and only 19% of Republicans supporting it, along with 47% of Independents.
Black voters were more likely to support the choice than white voters, with 68% versus 44% backing the decision, respectively.
Both older and younger Democratic voters were equally likely to back the choice, though Democrats under age 45 were one percent more likely to “strongly” support his decision (53%, versus 52% for those 45 and up).
Democrats’ support for Biden’s pick could help combat lagging enthusiasm about voting in the midterm elections: only 47% of Democrats said they were “extremely” or “very” enthusiastic about voting, versus 56% of Republicans.
Young Democratic voters and Black voters were the least excited about turning out, with only 39% and 37% reporting high levels of enthusiasm, respectively.
Big Number
41.7%. That’s Biden’s approval rating among voters as of Wednesday, according to an aggregate of polls compiled by FiveThirtyEight. His approval is down from more than 50% over the summer, emphasizing the president’s need for a Supreme Court pick that can boost support among Democrats who have lost faith in his administration.
Key Background
Biden has committed to following through on his campaign promise to nominate the first Black woman to the Supreme Court, after a vacancy became available when Justice Stephen Breyer announced last week he’ll retire at the end of this court term. The president’s insistence on appointing a Black woman has been divisive, particularly among Republican opponents who have criticized Biden for only considering Black women for the role. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called the decision “offensive” because he claimed Biden’s telling other demographics “you are ineligible,” and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said that while she’d “welcome” a Black woman on the court, she believed Biden had politicized the process too much by committing to appoint one while campaigning. Other Republicans have been more supportive, however, with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) saying on Face the Nation Sunday he’s in favor of “making the court more like America.”
What To Watch For
Biden has said he’ll name his nominee by the end of February, and he’s reportedly considering more than a dozen women for the role, including appeals court Judge Kentanji Brown Jackson, California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger and U.S. District Judge J. Michelle Childs. Once he names a nominee, Senate Democrats have said they expect a quick confirmation process, and their slim majority in the Senate—50 seats plus Vice President Kamala Harris as a tiebreaker—means a nominee could be confirmed without GOP support.
Further Reading
Biden’s Supreme Court Pick Has Potential to Motivate Black Voters, Younger Democrats (Morning Consult)
Will Biden’s Supreme Court Nominee Get GOP Support? Here’s What Republicans Are Saying So Far (Forbes)
Crump Says Black Woman SCOTUS Selection Important For ‘America To Fulfill Its Promise’ (Forbes)
Senators spar over Biden’s pledge to pick Black woman for SCOTUS seat (Politico)
