Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow
Deborah (Debbie) Ann StabenowBattle looms over Biden health care plan if Democrats win big ACLU calls on Congress to approve COVID-19 testing for immigrants Senators press IRS chief on stimulus check pitfalls MORE (Mich.) on Friday announced that she will oppose Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court, saying he has sided special interests.
Based on Kavanaugh's cases and writings "it is clear that he has chosen to side with the wealthiest special interests over the majority of Americans time after time," Stabenow said in a statement.
The Michigan Democrat previously opposed Neil Gorsuch, President Trump
Donald John TrumpDHS to label white supremacists as the 'most persistent and lethal threat' to the US: report Buttigieg slams Trump over comments on fallen soldiers: 'He must think we're all suckers' White House tells federal agencies to cancel 'divisive' racial sensitivity training: report MORE's first Supreme Court nominee. Her opposition to Kavanaugh comes just months before the November midterms, when she is up for reelection in a state Trump won in 2016.
Stabenow also pointed to concerns that Kavanaugh, if confirmed, could undercut the Affordable Care Act and women's health care, as well as environmental laws.
“I have another deep concern as well," she added. "Of all the choices the President had for this position, he chose the one person who has indicated on the record that he believes the President is above the law."
Democrats have homed in on Kavanaugh's writing on executive power, arguing he would protect Trump from special counsel Robert Mueller
Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE's probe into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia if it ever reaches the courts.
Kavanaugh wrote in a 2009 Minnesota Law Review article that a president should be able to focus with as "few distractions as possible" and that an indictment would "cripple" the federal government.
“I believe that the President should be excused from some of the burdens of ordinary citizenship while serving in office,” he wrote.
In addition to Stabenow, Michigan Sen. Gary Peters
Gary Charles PetersHillicon Valley: Russia 'amplifying' concerns around mail-in voting to undermine election | Facebook and Twitter take steps to limit Trump remarks on voting | Facebook to block political ads ahead of election Top Democrats press Trump to sanction Russian individuals over 2020 election interference efforts The Hill's Convention Report: Postmaster General grilled | Looking ahead to GOP convention | Trump campaign passes billion in spending MORE (D) also announced his opposition to Kavanaugh's nomination on Friday.
“The Supreme Court is supposed to protect the fundamental rights of all Americans, and I believe Judge Kavanaugh’s judicial record shows that he will put the needs of special interests and large corporations ahead of the American people," he said in a statement.
Peters is up for reelection in 2020.