This article is over 4 years old

Houston Matters

Kavanaugh’s Contentious Confirmation Could Impact Midterm Election

Political analyst Nancy Sims says it might have an effect on important local races such as Cruz-O’Rourke and Culberson-Pannill Fletcher

Share

Listen

To embed this piece of audio in your site, please use this code:

<iframe src="https://embed.hpm.io/1/307060" style="height: 115px; width: 100%;"></iframe>
X

The contentious confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh could impact the midterm election, according to a political analyst that was on Houston Matters Friday.

Nancy Sims said recent critical comments President Donald Trump made about Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who accuses Kavanaugh of sexual assault when they were both teenagers, have gotten “gotten his base very fired up.”

“I think you’re gonna have a higher turnout as a result of this,” said Sims, while adding that “it’s gonna be who’s anger is deeper that drives the turnout,” in reference to voters who lean Republican or Democrat.

Judge Brett Kavanaugh swearing in to testify in front of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee as part of his confirmation to become a Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Sims also thinks the political bickering over Kavanaugh's confirmation could impact important local races such as the one between Republican Congressman John Culberson and his Democratic challenger Lizzie Pannill Fletcher, as well as race between Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Democratic Congressman Beto O’Rourke.

“It drives their voters just stronger,” commented Sims referring to the Cruz-O'Rourke contest.

At the same time, Sims considers it's possible the prolonged and contentious confirmation could actually have exasperated voters, making them decide not to vote.

Today in Houston Newsletter Signup
We're in the process of transitioning services for our Today in Houston newsletter. If you'd like to sign up now, fill out the form below and we will add you as soon as we finish the transition. **Please note** If you are already signed up for the newsletter, you do not need to sign up again. Your subscription will be migrated over.