Florida Democrats React to Kavanaugh's Confirmation

As Judge Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court this weekend, Democrats are now looking to fire up their base as they set their sights on the November midterm elections.

In response to Kavanaugh's confirmation, many Florida Democratic lawmakers shared their thoughts on why this is a bad move for the country.

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, currently making a run to become Florida's Governor, commented that "Today is a dark day for the Senate and a tough day for our country. The women who have come forward in the last few weeks, the people who have been making phone calls, making their voices heard in the halls of the Capitol and across the country — I hear you and I stand with you. Judge Kavanaugh will be a critical vote on the most divisive and contentious issues of our time and as Florida’s Governor, I will use my platform and do everything in my power to protect Floridians’ access to health care and protect women’s rights and freedoms. I am disappointed, but we cannot give up and I will continue to fight for each and every Floridian."

Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz also weighed in on the confirmation, detailing that "This process was flawed from the start. In his first rushed hearings, Judge Kavanaugh was not always forthright in his testimony, and the vast majority of documents that could have shed light on his record were withheld from Senators. Since then, his lack of credibility and suitability for the bench became increasingly evident. Confronted by credible allegations of sexual assault, he repeatedly obfuscated or lied about his past behavior, and revealed himself to be the unabashed partisan that so many had feared him to be. Clearly, his temperament throughout was erratic and should have served as an immediate disqualifier for this consequential, lifetime position. Elections certainly have consequences. So does voting to place an accused sexual assault perpetrator on our highest court. Millions of women, assault survivors and men of conscience will not soon forget the injustice that today’s vote represents.”

Finally, Nikki Fried, making a run to become Florida's next Agriculture Commissioner, noted that "Yesterday’s Senate confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court serves as a reminder that we need to empower women with a seat at the table.”