Scalia replacement becoming central issue in Ohio senatorial race

The unexpected death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia means that a replacement Justice will have to be appointed by the president and approved by Congress.

However, what might seem like a simple procedure is becoming a hotly contended issue in congressional elections across the country, including Ohio.

Scalia was known for his conservative views, and his death means the loss of a key conservative vote on the 9-person Supreme Court.

Incumbent Republican Senator Rob Portman said that Congress should wait to choose a successor to Scalia, while his likely Democratic challenger, former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, said that he would approve the president’s pick.

Since U.S. Supreme Court Justices are appointed for life, any one Justice will likely have a significant impact on the direction of the country.

Portman said the American people should have a chance to weigh in on the issue by delaying the vote until the next president is elected, while Strickland says that having a vacant seat on the Supreme Court is too important to leave empty.

Expect the appointment of a new Justice to be a major issue in this contested senatorial race.

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