Sen. Steve Daines (R-M.T.) will attend his daughter’s wedding in their home state Saturday — the same day as the long-awaited final Senate vote to determine Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s appointment to the Supreme Court.
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Sen. Daines, who has supported Kavanaugh’s confirmation since he was nominated by President Donald Trump back in July, confirmed Thursday that nothing would keep him from walking his oldest daughter, Annie Daines, down the aisle.
“My daughter’s wedding has been planned for months,” Daines told CNN.
He added, however, that he’s prepared to fly back to Washington after the wedding to cast his critical vote, which could prove crucial in confirming Kavanaugh.
“I’d come back after the wedding,” he said.
Just cast my vote for Judge Kavanaugh getting him one step closer onto #SCOTUS. We spoke last night, and I assured him, I will be back to vote YES this weekend if needed. Looking forward to calling Judge Kavanaugh, Justice Kavanaugh. pic.twitter.com/KzfdX2HIMc
— Steve Daines (@SteveDaines) October 5, 2018
Daines says he knows 2 things: “By the end of the weekend I will have walked my daughter down the aisle and we will have a new Supreme Court judge.”
— Kristina L. Peterson (@kristinapet) October 5, 2018
.@SteveDaines is a good friend and hunting/fishing buddy and as far as his vote this weekend is concerned he tells me he has it covered.
Coming from this man you can take that to the bank!
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) October 5, 2018
Daines was praised on social media for his decision to place family over politics, especially amid the fiery battle over the Supreme Court vacancy.
tbh I have a lot of respect for Daines prioritizing his girl’s wedding over politics.
— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) October 5, 2018
I respect the hell out of Senator Daines for not skipping his daughter’s wedding to vote on Kavanaugh.
At the end of the day, we have nothing as a society if we don’t prioritize family.
Kavanaugh will still be confirmed. Stop panicking.
— David Hookstead (@dhookstead) October 5, 2018
I get that, but as a father of two amazing daughters, I am telling you that nothing short of death would keep me from attending their weddings. I respect and admire Sen. Daines for taking a similar position.
1) God
2) Family
3) CountryThey are in that order for a reason.
— Proud American (@Antagonizer11) October 5, 2018
Fellow Montana GOP politician Rep. Greg Gianforte even offered his private plane for Daines to use for a last-minute flight to D.C.
Colleague Brooke Singman rpts GOP MT Rep Greg Gianforte will offer his plane to Daines if he needs to fly back to DC to vote to confirm Kavanaugh. Daines is supposed to be at his daughter's wedding in MT. Daines says Gianforte "has come to save the day."
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) October 5, 2018
The Senate is expected to vote at around 5 p.m. Saturday, with a delay possible if the Republican senator’s vote is needed to push the confirmation through.
Daines told CNN that GOP leaders may hold open the confirmation vote overnight if need be, buying him additional travel time to return from Montana.