OH-Sen: Brown still undecided on Trump Supreme Court nominee as Renacci presses issue

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), after having met with Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, still expressed uncertainty about whether he would vote for President Donald Trump's pick to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy, according to the Toledo Blade.

Brown's opponent in the Senate race, Republican Rep. Jim Renacci, has been pressing Brown on the issue recently, criticizing Brown for taking so long to meet with the nominee.

Brown, who may be balancing the wishes of his party against the politics of his state, which was won by Trump in 2016, wouldn't commit at this time.

"I'm already very troubled by the Supreme Court's recent decisions stripping rights from Ohioans, and I have serious concerns about some of Judge Kavanaugh's rulings and positions on health care for Ohioans with pre-existing conditions, and the rights of Ohio workers, women and consumers," Brown said in a statement after the meeting.

Many Democrats have enthusiastically opposed Trump's nominee — some even before knowing who it would be. For example, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said Kavanaugh "will undermine the ability of women of color, particularly, to survive. The intention is to take away women's rights."

Renacci sees an opportunity

Renacci is taking advantage of Brown's indecision, calling the incumbent senator out for worrying more about the Democratic Party's stance than what's best for the people of Ohio.

"Judge Kavanaugh is a thoughtful, experienced jurist who should certainly be confirmed by the Senate and its unfortunate that Sherrod Brown cares so much more about Chuck Schumer than he does about the Ohioans he's being paid to serve," a Renacci statement read.

Renacci has been pushing the issue for a while, noting in a tweet early last month that Brown voted for 100 percent of former President Barack Obama's judicial nominees, and saying Ohio deserves "a Senator who reveres the Constitution more than they revere Schumer."