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Dems Turn Up Heat On Portman With Empty Supreme Court Seat

David Pepper, chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, with people dressed as Supreme Court justices and an empty seat
Andy Chow
David Pepper, chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, with people dressed as Supreme Court justices and an empty seat

The head of Ohio’s Democratic Party is throwing punches at Republican Senator Rob Portman for his part in the continued Supreme Court vacancy, saying that a new development makes it even more important to fill the seat now. 

The Ohio Democratic Party has made the empty seat on the U.S. Supreme Court a centerpiece in their attempt to beat incumbent Republican Senator Rob Portman who along with most of the Senate Republicans refuses to hold hearings or a vote on President Barack Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland.

Pepper says Portman should change his mind given the changing landscape of the presidential election.

“Now that Donald Trump, the most toxic presidential candidate in modern history is the Republican’s presumptive nominee Senator Portman’s refusal to do his job is becoming even more dangerous,” said Pepper.

Portman has said that the voters will have a say in who the next Supreme Court justice should be based on their vote for president in November.

Copyright 2021 The Statehouse News Bureau. To see more, visit The Statehouse News Bureau.

Andy Chow is a general assignment state government reporter who focuses on environmental, energy, agriculture, and education-related issues. He started his journalism career as an associate producer with ABC 6/FOX 28 in Columbus before becoming a producer with WBNS 10TV.