In a 52-47 vote, the Senate approved Chad Readler’s nomination to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. | AP Photo/Andrew Harnik Legal Senate confirms Trump's judicial nominee who opposed Obamacare

The Senate confirmed President Donald Trump's controversial judicial nominee on Wednesday who supported a lawsuit challenging Obamacare.

In a 52-47 vote, the Senate approved Chad Readler’s nomination to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine joined Democrats to vote against the nominee.


In the lead-up to the vote, Senate Democrats framed Readler's confirmation battle as a test for Republicans on whether they supported protecting people with pre-existing conditions.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) took to the Senate floor Wednesday to blast Readler, who previously worked at the Justice Department and signed a brief that backed a challenge to the Affordable Care Act.

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“My Republican friends, do you want to vote for a judge who says protecting pre-existing conditions, which affect 100 million Americans, are unconstitutional?,” Schumer asked. “Well, that’s what you’re going to do if you vote for Readler.”

Senate Democrats also cited a statement from Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), who criticized Readler’s Obamacare brief, calling it as “far-fetched as any I’ve ever heard.” Alexander voted for Readler’s final confirmation and said in an interview that he took Readler’s brief “into account” when making his decision.

Liberal judicial groups, like Demand Justice and the Alliance for Justice Action Campaign, also sought to pressure Republican senators to vote against Readler using ad buys. But Collins was the only Republican to vote against his nomination.

Readler’s confirmation comes one day after the Senate confirmed Allison Rushing to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. Democrats blasted Rushing, who is 37, for her lack of experience.

