Tim Kaine (D - VA) Definitely No 2018 election seat
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September 7: I will oppose the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court. I have diligently studied his record of academic writings and judicial opinions. I have read the limited documents we’ve been provided from his time working for Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr and the Administration of President George W. Bush. I have interviewed him face-to-face in my office. And I have observed his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. I conclude that Judge Kavanaugh should not be confirmed to the Supreme Court, particularly at this pivotal time in our nation’s history, because he cannot be counted on to serve as an independent check on the President or to uphold critical precedents that affect the wellbeing of millions of Americans. (senate.gov)
August 22: The senator argues that rushing to come out against Kavanaugh’s nomination “makes the process less helpful to the American public.” “If everybody takes a position before the hearings, why have the hearings? ... You could just discharge and put something right on the floor and then that would be really bad for the American public so I think that the right thing to do on a Supreme Court nominee is to meet with them, wait for the hearing,” Kaine told The Hill...“I want to always have a meeting with a Supreme Court nominee. I think it’s the single most important nomination that the Senate ever has to consider,” he said. (The Hill)
July 21: On Judge Kavanaugh, I'm reading his opinions. I'm scheduling a meeting with him. I'm going to meet with him personally, which Republicans refused to do when Judge Garland was nominated for the court. And then I'm going to watch the judiciary committee hearing. And after that hearing and after I have the opportunity to personally ask him about issues that I think are really important, I'll wait til after the hearing and make up my mind. I'll do it on the merits. (YouTube / PBS News Hour - first U.S. Senate debate in Virginia)
July 11: Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said that while many of his fellow Democrats have already said they will oppose the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, he has not yet made up his mind how he will vote on the Supreme Court nominee. On Wednesday morning, Kaine told reporters that he has a lot of concerns about Kavanaugh. He said he is particularly worried over the effect the judge could have on abortion rights and abolition of the Affordable Care Act, but Kaine insists he must do a lot of research before he decides how he will vote. 'My goal is to review the record with my staff, interview Judge Kavanaugh in my office. Possibly offer some of those ideas to the judiciary committee members who will be questioning him. Watch that hearing before making a final decision,' said Kaine[.] He says he would like to see the Senate wait until after the midterm elections to vote on Kavanaugh's nomination. (WSLS)
July 9: Here's what I'm wondering about the #SCOTUSpick: Will Judge Kavanaugh respect rulings to uphold the ACA? Will he safeguard ALL Americans' civil rights? Will he protect women's freedom to make their own reproductive health care decisions? Will he be independent of this President? (Twitter)