Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein’s health is causing concern among her party colleagues, with some calling for her resignation. Feinstein has been recovering from shingles for nearly two months, and her absence leaves Democrats without a critical single-vote margin to secure passage of legislation. This has raised questions about whether Joe Biden’s agenda is in jeopardy.
Feinstein has asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to temporarily replace her on the Judiciary Committee so that President Joe Biden’s judicial appointments are not held up by her absence. However, Senate rules require at least 60 votes for such a swap, which could be difficult to secure.
Republicans may use the opportunity to argue that fewer of President Biden’s judicial picks will be seated if they do not vote for a temporary replacement for Feinstein on the Judiciary Committee.
Calls for Feinstein’s resignation are coming from some Democrats, while others are pushing back against the calls. Senator Chris Murphy has told MSNBC he is “offended” by them, while former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has charged that they are sexist.
The situation is complex, but one thing is clear: Democrats need to find a way to handle the situation without losing their critical single-vote margin in the Senate.
The ultimate outcome remains to be seen, but if Democrats cannot secure Feinstein’s vote, Joe Biden’s agenda could be in jeopardy. This is a critical moment for Democrats, and they need to act quickly and decisively to ensure that they can continue to push their agenda forward.
