GOP Sen. Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power Billionaire who donated to Trump in 2016 donates to Biden Credit union group to spend million on Senate, House races MORE (Maine) will meet with Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on Tuesday, her office has announced.

Collins is widely considered a potential swing vote on Kavanaugh, who, if confirmed, is expected to help tilt the Supreme Court to the right for decades.

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Kavanaugh’s nomination has raised alarm among progressive outside groups over concerns, in particular, that he could help overturn or curb Roe v Wade, the landmark abortion rights case. Kavanaugh was nominated to succeed Justice Anthony Kennedy, the fifth vote on a 1992 decision that upheld Roe.





Collins has said she could not support a nominee who had “demonstrated hostility” to Roe v Wade.

She said separately in the wake of Kennedy’s retirement announcement that she looks for judges who “respect precedent.”

"I view Roe v. Wade as being settled law. It's clearly precedent and I always look for judges who respect precedent," Collins told reporters in June, hours after Kennedy’s retirement was announced

Collins is one of the last Republican senators to announce a meeting with Kavanaugh. GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski Lisa Ann MurkowskiOVERNIGHT ENERGY: House passes sweeping clean energy bill | Pebble Mine CEO resigns over secretly recorded comments about government officials | Corporations roll out climate goals amid growing pressure to deliver The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump previews SCOTUS nominee as 'totally brilliant' Abortion stirs GOP tensions in Supreme Court fight MORE (Alaska), also considered a potential swing vote, has told reporters she plans to meet with Kavanaugh this week.