Brett Kavanaugh now sits on the Supreme Court, but the contentious battle over his nomination continues to reverberate in the run-up to next month’s midterm elections.
A new USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll finds that more than six in 10 likely voters say Kavanaugh’s confirmation after facing allegations of sexual assault makes them more likely to vote for one party or the other. Despite the conventional wisdom that the fight energized the GOP base, these voters are more likely to say it has spurred them to support Democrats.
Christine Blasey Ford, a California professor, testified in September before the Senate Judiciary Committee that Kavanaugh tried to rape her at a house party in suburban Maryland when both were in high school. In a combative response, Kavanaugh denied any wrongdoing
The Senate then confirmed him 50-48, largely along party lines
In the survey, 35 percent said Kavanaugh’s confirmation made them more likely to vote for a Democratic congressional candidate and 27 percent said it made them more likely to vote for a Republican congressional candidate. Another 37 percent said it wouldn’t affect their vote.