Senator Susan Collins paved the way in which for a straightforward Supreme Court docket affirmation for Choose Ketanji Brown Jackson on Wednesday after the Maine Republican introduced she'd be the primary GOP vote to again President Joe Biden's nominee.

Regardless of a contentious Senate listening to final week—through which Republicans grilled Jackson on her file and historical past as a public defender—there are 5 potential GOP senators who would possibly nonetheless be part of Collins in voting for Jackson's nomination.

Amongst these senators are Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Roy Blunt of Missouri, Rob Portman of Ohio and Richard Burr of North Carolina.

Murkowski was among the many three Republican senators who backed Jackson when she was nominated to the D.C. Circuit Court docket of Appeals final yr—together with Collins and Lindsey Graham—however she has stated that her prior help shouldn't be used as an indicator as to how she'll vote subsequent Monday.

Murkowski has additionally pushed again in opposition to the road of questioning from her Republican colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee, saying that whereas Jackson's file on baby pornography instances is "value wanting into," it will solely be a significant component if it is a "sample."

"If it is a matter of…one-offs which have been hyped into greater than that, I feel that is one thing we have to attempt to discern," Murkowski informed Politico final week.

Romney, one other reasonable Republican, might additionally be part of Collins in supporting Jackson.

Whereas he opposed Jackson's nomination to the appeals courtroom, he has additionally spoken out in opposition to his Republican colleagues for his or her criticisms of Jackson throughout final week's listening to, calling the assault on the nominee "off target" and saying "my coronary heart would love to have the ability to vote for her affirmation."

Romney has but to disclose his vote, however stated final Tuesday that he "loved" his assembly with Jackson and that "her dedication to public service and her household are apparent."

Republican Senators Ketanji Jackson
5 different Republican senators might be part of Susan Collins of Maine in confirming Choose Ketanji Brown Jackson as the primary Black lady on the Supreme Court docket. Above, Senators Lisa Murkowski, Invoice Cassidy, Susan Collins and Mitt Romney communicate to reporters on the U.S. Capitol on July 28, 2021, in Washington, D.C. Drew Angerer/Getty

One other potential win for Jackson could come from Missouri's senior senator.

Though the state's different senator, Josh Hawley, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, looks as if a assured "no" on the nominee, Blunt, who's retiring and thus not working for re-election this yr, has stated he does not wish to rush his resolution that that he'd "actually prefer to vote for the primary Black lady to go on the courtroom."

However Blunt added that his resolution will in the end come all the way down to Jackson's "view of what the courtroom does and their view of what the legislation is all about."

The senator has a historical past of engaged on bipartisan efforts. He was certainly one of 5 Republicans who labored intently with the White Home to compromise on infrastructure final yr and has one of many greater charges of settlement with Biden, voting with him 57 p.c of the time, in accordance with FiveThirtyEight.

Portman, who's much more prone to vote with Biden, at 68 p.c of the time, might additionally vote for the historic affirmation.

Whereas he is stated that Jackson does not share his judicial philosophy, the retiring senator believes "she's a certified individual" and that he "appreciated" her when he met together with her on the Hill earlier this month.

Burr, who can also be retiring after this Congress, will likely be one other vote to observe.

The North Carolina Republican sometimes votes alongside social gathering strains however did shock throughout former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial when he voted to convict.

Burr met with Jackson on Tuesday, with questions on increasing the Supreme Court docket, however the senator has not alluded to how he'll vote.

Whereas Republican votes for Jackson stay up within the air, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, a Democrat, stated he is "nonetheless hopeful" there could possibly be bipartisanship help behind the primary Black lady nominated to the Supreme Court docket.

"I nonetheless suppose there's an opportunity," Durbin informed reporters final week.

Collins' Wednesday announcement means Jackson may have the assured easy majority wanted to affix the excessive courtroom.

Whereas it stays unclear how reasonable Democrat Senator Kyrsten Sinema will vote, Senator Joe Manchin has already acknowledged he would vote for Jackson's nomination.

Sinema is thought to not preview her votes, however the Arizona senator has been supportive of the president's judicial picks thus far. Of the 42 federal judges confirmed by the Senate final yr, Sinema didn't vote in opposition to a single one.