Sen. Ted Cruz, a 2016 GOP presidential contender, said that a replacement for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia should be made after President Obama’s successor takes the oath of office.

The news of Scalia’s death quickly spilled over onto the campaign trail, where Republicans praised him and offered his family their condolences.

Mr. Cruz called Scalia “an American hero” on Twitter and made the case against Mr. Obama having the chance to push forward a replacement.

“We owe it to him & the Nation, for the Senate to ensure that the next president names his replacement,” Mr. Cruz said.

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson made a similar argument.

“It is imperative that the Senate not allow President Obama to diminish [Scalia‘s] legacy by trying to nominate an individual who would carry on his wishes to subvert the will of the People,” Mr. Carson said in a statement. “Given the dire condition our democracy currently finds itself under Obama’s ideological agenda, I call on the Senate to stop any attempts to fill this crucial seat until We The People elect a strong Constitutionalist this November.”

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