Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk is one of a handful of senators facing uphill climbs toward reelection in the fall who have said they would meet with Merrick Garland. | Getty Sen. Mark Kirk to GOP colleagues: 'Man up and cast a vote'

Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk chided his Republican colleagues on Friday for their unwillingness to put the Supreme Court nomination of Merrick Garland through a vote and confirmation process.

"Just man up and cast a vote. The tough thing about these senatorial jobs is you get yes or no votes. Your whole job is to either say yes or no and explain why," Kirk told "The Big John Howell" show on Chicago's WLS-AM.


When asked about Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) repeated refusal to allow a confirmation hearing for Garland until a new president is elected, Kirk conceded, "given Mitch's view, I don't see his view changing too much."

"You know, eventually, we have an election, and we will have a new president. The new president will obviously come forward with a nomination," Kirk said.

Kirk is one of a handful of senators facing uphill climbs toward reelection in the fall who have said they would meet with Garland, including Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, though the Illinois lawmaker is thought to be perhaps the most vulnerable target for the Democrats and his challenger, Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).