Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) announced on Thursday that she will not vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
"I will be voting against confirming U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court," Heitkamp said in a personal statement on Twitter.
My statement on U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh: https://t.co/exZcK78JtF— Archive: Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (@Archive: Sen. Heidi Heitkamp) 1538677762.0
"After doing my due diligence and now that the record is apparently closed, I will vote against his confirmation," Heitkamp said, adding that her vote to deny Kavanaugh a seat on the nation's highest court is part of her effort to stand up for women and survivors of sexual assault.
"Our actions right now are a poignant signal to young girls and women across our country," Heitkamp said. "I will continue to stand up for them."
Heitkamp cited the testimony of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, who last month publicly accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct at a house party in the 1980's. Heitkamp said through Ford, she "heard the voices of women I have known throughout my life who have similar stories of sexual assault and abuse."
Heitkamp later echoed the sentiments in an interview for ABC News, saying:
"This isn't a political decision. If this were a political decision for me, I certainly would be deciding this the other way. I can't get up in the morning and look at the life experience that I've had and say yes to Judge Kavanaugh."
There are few tougher people than my colleague, @HeidiHeitkamp. Let's have her back in a tough fight this November→… https://t.co/RpRWaNQAMA— Kamala Harris (@Kamala Harris) 1538686671.0
New York's Kirsten Gillibrand said Heitkamp's decision "is a vote for her conscience and for her state, one she made regardless of any attacks she'll face."
.@HeidiHeitkamp just announced she’ll vote against Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation. This is a vote for her conscienc… https://t.co/q3NHi0t8s2— Kirsten Gillibrand (@Kirsten Gillibrand) 1538682604.0
"We need her to stay strong in this race, defeat Cramer and help protect the future of the Supreme Court," Gillibrand added.
And while our fight to stop Kavanaugh isn’t over yet, if Heidi’s opponent, Kevin Cramer, were in the Senate, it cou… https://t.co/Z0gGuRFWXe— Kirsten Gillibrand (@Kirsten Gillibrand) 1538682632.0
A grateful public made shared their appreciation.
@SenatorHeitkamp Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.— Patricia Arquette (@Patricia Arquette) 1538680053.0
@SenatorHeitkamp Good on you Senator🇺🇸— Ike Barinholtz (@Ike Barinholtz) 1538685178.0
@SenatorHeitkamp Woman of valor— Donna Brazile (@Donna Brazile) 1538689595.0
@SenatorHeitkamp Wow, someone who is actually willing to put country above party. I sincerely hope she is not alone.— Bobby Pearce (@Bobby Pearce) 1538678506.0
@SenatorHeitkamp Thank you, ma’am!— Not Gas Lit (@Not Gas Lit) 1538685611.0
@SenatorHeitkamp Thank you Senator Heidi Heitkamp for making it clear #Kavanaugh is not qualified and will get your… https://t.co/em5k8tMg9b— 🗽TrueAmerica (@🗽TrueAmerica) 1538685772.0
Heitkamp was lauded for her courage, as she currently trails in the polls to her Republican opponent in deep-red North Dakota.
Placing principle over politics has Twitter cheering - and donating.
She's losing by more than 10 points in recent polling, so props to @HeidiHeitkamp for doing what's right instead of… https://t.co/j0O9AaJmK7— shauna (@shauna) 1538676992.0
@twpolk @DC_Resister_Bee @goldengateblond @HeidiHeitkamp As will I. She deserves our support.— Rick Petree (@Rick Petree) 1538681728.0
@goldengateblond @HeidiHeitkamp I'm in! I had my doubts but she proved me wrong. https://t.co/NQ3L5Vd5tJ— Anthony Houser (@Anthony Houser) 1538680390.0
@goldengateblond @HeidiHeitkamp Donated! Thanks Heidi!— Lia Fernandez (@Lia Fernandez) 1538683949.0
@goldengateblond @amandablount2 @HeidiHeitkamp Thank you so much, Senator Heidi.— pinkdogwood770 (@pinkdogwood770) 1538683152.0
@goldengateblond @HeidiHeitkamp Donated!— Is It 2020 Yet? 🌊🌊🌊 (@Is It 2020 Yet? 🌊🌊🌊) 1538679759.0
@goldengateblond @HeidiHeitkamp I did too!— Michele (@Michele) 1538681658.0
@goldengateblond @HeidiHeitkamp I just hope a Two letter word won’t cost her the seat. We need brave people like he… https://t.co/9zr20JFfcP— 💉RN/Veteran🏳️🌈Always Resist (@💉RN/Veteran🏳️🌈Always Resist) 1538689532.0
@goldengateblond @HeidiHeitkamp Donated. And want to thank the brave senator.— Mom #BlueWave2020 (@Mom #BlueWave2020) 1538689207.0
@goldengateblond @HeidiHeitkamp I'm donating to her, we need courageous politicians!— Cherylhe (@Cherylhe) 1538688586.0
The Senate begins voting on Kavanaugh's confirmation on Friday. It is expected to be a nailbiter and could end up determining which party wins control of the upper chamber in November's midterms.