Indiana U.S. Senator and Governor-elect Mike Braun has faced criticism for missing key judicial confirmation votes this week, which could have blocked Democrat-supported nominees.
Former President Donald Trump expressed frustration, urging Republican senators to show up to prevent Democrats from confirming judges before the GOP takes control of the Senate in January.
Braun, who won Indiana’s gubernatorial race earlier this month, has been balancing his current Senate responsibilities with his transition to the governorship, which begins in January.
This week, Braun attended the Republican Governors Association’s Annual Conference in Florida, leading to his absence during four confirmation votes. One vote, confirming a judge for the District of Columbia, passed 50-49.
Had Braun been present and voted no, the confirmation could have been blocked, as Vice President Kamala Harris was unavailable to break a tie.
Trump criticized the absenteeism in a post on X formerly Twitter, calling on GOP senators to prevent Democrats from “stacking the Courts with Radical Left Judges” during the lame-duck session.
Indiana’s other senator, Todd Young, voted against all four judicial nominees. Speculation has arisen about whether Braun might resign early to allow his successor, Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Banks, to take over before January.
Banks won the Senate seat Braun vacated to run for governor but will not be sworn in until the new Congress convenes. Braun’s office has not yet commented on the situation.