The Senate voted 51-48 on Sunday to advance the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett, setting up a final confirmation vote for Monday.
Why it matters: It's now virtually inevitable that the Senate will vote to confirm President Trump's third Supreme Court nominee before the election, which is just nine days away.
Driving the news: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) advised his caucus on Sunday not to congregate in the Senate chamber and to cast "votes quickly and from a safe distance," after several of Vice President Mike Pence's aides tested positive for the coronavirus.
- Pence is set to preside over Barrett's confirmation vote on Monday, and has declined to quarantine under CDC guidelines.
- Staffers for Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) also tested positive for the virus, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Saturday.
What they're saying: "While CDC guidelines would dictate contract tracing a quarantining be practiced, our colleagues and the Vice President have indicated that they do not intend to follow such protocols," Schumer wrote in a letter to colleagues.
- "The Vice President is maintaining his campaign schedule and, inexplicably, intends to preside over the Senate chamber tomorrow evening."
- "Their carelessness with the health and safety of their colleagues and Capitol employees mirrors their carelessness with the health and safety of Americans during this crisis."