Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) is pictured. | Getty Ayotte opposes Supreme Court nomination as Dems pounce

New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, a Republican from a state that supported President Barack Obama, announced on Sunday evening that she opposes confirmation of a new Supreme Court nominee before the November election.

The move comes as Ayotte has sought to build a pragmatic profile in New Hampshire against her opponent, Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan. But Ayotte is choosing to back Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s blockade of any replacement for deceased Justice Antonin Scalia.


“We’re in the midst of a consequential presidential election year, and Americans deserve an opportunity to weigh in given the significant implications this nomination could have for the Supreme Court and our country for decades to come. I believe the Senate should not move forward with the confirmation process until the American people have spoken by electing a new president,” Ayotte said.

Sen. Ron Johnson, a more conservative senator up for reelection in blue Wisconsin, also supports holding off on any nomination battle until next year.

Ayotte’s announcement came shortly after the Senate Democrats campaign arm began trying to capitalize on McConnell’s blockade, firing the first shot in what could become the pivotal issue in this fall’s battle for Senate control.

About 24 hours after Scalia’s death was confirmed, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee circulated McConnell’s contention that “this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president” to its fundraising list. A small line at the bottom of the email contained a fundraising link, but the Sunday email was constructed primarily to gather information from potential donors, asking that recipients sign on to “tell Republicans to stop playing politics with the Supreme Court!

“Just hours after Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away, McConnell disgracefully vowed to block ANYONE President Obama nominated to replace him,” the solicitation read.

“This is unconscionable. But it won’t stop unless we hold Republicans accountable for their politically motivated insult to President Obama and their failure to uphold their constitutional duties.”

Other than Ayotte, most Senate Republicans facing difficult reelection campaigns remained quiet on Sunday night, even after Senate Democrats began suggesting that McConnell could lose his 54-seat majority in November if the Senate GOP follows through on ignoring a nomination made by President Barack Obama.

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a moderate Republican who is not up for reelection, came the closest to breaking with McConnell and the GOP presidential field, criticizing both parties for “speculating so soon about a new Supreme Court nominee given that Justice Scalia died only yesterday and unexpectedly.”

She said she has “no insights regarding the president’s intentions,” but sounded open to considering a nominee.

“More than any other appointment upon which the Senate is called to pass judgment, nominees to the Supreme Court warrant in-depth consideration given the importance of their constitutional role and their lifetime tenure. Our role in the Senate is to evaluate the nominee’s temperament, intellect, experience, integrity and respect for the Constitution and the rule of law," Collins wrote in an emailed statement.