Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) could lose her seat on the Senate Judiciary Committee following the 2018 midterm elections.
The Hill reports there could be a shakeup on the committee as Republicans gained Senate seats. Harris, known for her unrelenting interrogation methods, is the newest addition to the committee, having joined after Senator Al Franken (D-MN) resigned and Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) helped boost the number of Democrats in the upper chamber. Because she was the last to join, Harris could lose her spot should the number of Democrats on the committee be reduced.
According to The Washington Post, the California senator has spoken to Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) about her desire to stay on the committee. Schumer also wants her to hold onto her seat, writing in a statement, “Senator Kamala Harris is a terrific member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and we are going to do everything we can to keep her there."
The minority leader will have a chance to fight for the freshman senator when he meets with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to discuss committees for the next Congress. The two men and other Senate leaders will hash out the structure of all of the chamber's committees before 2019 begins.
Brian Fallon, director of advocacy group Demand Justice, believes Harris has an excellent chance of staying in the group.
“Not only would it be unconscionable to remove the only African American woman from the committee, but Senator Harris also is the most skilled questioner on the entire panel,” Fallon said. “Whatever options they need to consider, removing Harris should not be one of them. The backlash would be intense.”
Harris is one of two African Americans on the committee, with the other being Cory Booker. She is one of four female members. Her pointed questioning during the Kavanaugh hearings did much to raise her national profile, and her performance in the committee has continued to make her a Democratic favorite to run for president in 2020.
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