Peters: Election should decide Supreme Court vacancy

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Democratic Sen. Gary Peters and Republican challenger John James staked out differing stances on the fight over President Donald Trump's pending Supreme Court pick.

Peters said over the weekend that given the stakes involved, “voters should have their voices heard" in the fall presidential election, and no nomination to succeed the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg should be made until the next presidential term begins.

Trump said Monday he expects to announce his pick for the Supreme Court on Friday or Saturday, fewer than 40 days before the election. He allowed that he would accept a vote in the lame duck period after Election Day but made clear his preference would be that it occur by Nov. 3.

James on Monday said Peters should “fairly and honestly evaluate the nominee on his or her merits," regardless of when one is put forward, “not on the basis of party politics.” His campaign declined to address the timing of the vote, however, and whether he supports majority Senate Republicans rushing through a pick so close to the election.

Democrats say the move is hypocritical after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to consider then-President Barack Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland, 237 days before the 2016 election.