A bold suggestion by former South Carolina lawmaker Bakari Sellers is sparking lively debate online and among political commentators: What if Vice President Kamala Harris were nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court?
The idea has gained media attention as Democrats increasingly consider potential replacements for Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who at 70 years old is seen by some as potentially stepping down before President Joe Biden leaves office. The speculation around Sotomayor’s future has led to renewed discussions about the makeup of the Supreme Court, particularly with the looming possibility of a Republican president following Biden’s term.
On CNN, Sellers raised eyebrows when he proposed Kamala Harris as a potential nominee to replace Sotomayor. He emphasized the urgency of making such a move before the balance of the court shifts further to the right, potentially under a future Republican administration.
“I think that is a good plan and it is something that should happen,” Sellers said, acknowledging the challenges facing the court. “Justice Sotomayor a has been more than able justice. I know she may be having personal issues that she contends with while serving on the bench, but I don’t want justice Sotomayor to be another Ruth Bader Ginsburg in terms of staying too long. What does this mean for the dynamic of the court? The court to 6-3. If we are able to replace it with a Biden justice it will still be 6-3. The possibility of justice Sotomayor having to resign or retire in the next four years is extremely high. You couple that with [Samuel] Alito and Clarence Thomas, that means you go from a 6-3 court to 7-2 court in terms of conservative versus liberal.”
Sellers went on to suggest that Kamala Harris, with her legal background and experience, would be an ideal candidate for the Supreme Court. “You have a vice president who has a legal pedigree to sit on the Supreme Court,” he said. “Let the Republicans go crazy at even mentioning that option.”
Host John Berman seemed stunned by the proposal, asking, “Did Bakari Sellers just float Vice President Kamala Harris as a potential Supreme Court nominee?” Sellers responded with a grin, “Not only am I floating it, I want to stir up everything. Let’s keep the chaos going!”
While Sellers is enthusiastic about the idea, some commentators are skeptical about its feasibility. Conservative analyst Shermichael Singleton cautioned that the political hurdles would be immense, particularly given the Republican control of the Senate. “Best of luck getting around Mitch McConnell,” Singleton said. “He’s one of the most effective political operators in history, and I don’t see the Democrats managing to pull off such a nomination.”
Berman noted that while the idea of nominating Kamala Harris might seem far-fetched, there are precedents for rapid Supreme Court nominations, citing the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett just weeks before the 2020 election. “It can be done quickly,” Sellers agreed, pointing out that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer could work with moderate Democrats like Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema to make it happen.
Despite these optimistic arguments, Singleton remained doubtful. “Chuck Schumer is no Mitch McConnell,” he said. “I just don’t see it happening.”
Whether or not Kamala Harris ever ends up on the Supreme Court, Sellers’ bold proposal has certainly given the political world something to talk about—stirring up both excitement and skepticism in equal measure.
Watch the segment below from CNN:
