Shelton Fed Confirmation Faces Major Difficulty As GOP Senator Self-Isolates

Senate Republicans face major difficulties in getting the confirmation of Fed Board of Governors nominee Judy Shelton across the line following the announcement that Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is self-isolating after coming into contact with an individual with COVID-19.

• There Republican senators - Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) - have already stated that they will vote against Shelton's confirmation. If every other Senator voted along party lines this would lead to a 50-50 split in the Senate, with the tie-breaking vote cast be Vice-President Mike Pence.
• However, should Grassley be unable to make it to the Senate floor to vote, the procedural vote in favour of Shelton's confirmation going ahead would fail 49-50.
• There is also difficulty should Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell seek to delay the vote. Senator-Elect from Arizona Mark Kelly, a Democrat, is due to be sworn in in the coming days. The loss of a Republican and the gain of a Democrat in the Senate maths would make confirmation even more difficult.
• Earlier, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Shelton was "one of the most unqualified nominees that he has ever seen".