Democrats need to replace their own radicalization, not Sotomayor
Supreme Court,Sonia Sotomayor,Liberals,Courts,Joe Biden,2024 Presidential Election
Starting to panic over President Joe Biden’s sinking chances in November, Democrats are starting to lower the lifeboats as the ship lists dangerously to port. One of the first they would like to send off is Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
An increasing number of leftist activists have begun to call publicly for Sotomayor’s retirement, all but admitting that they expect Biden to lose. But Democrats urging Sotomayor’s replacement on the Supreme Court forget: Biden can’t do it. It’s not that he wouldn’t or that he doesn’t want to. It’s that he is trapped between his leftist fealty and political reality. Any nominee the Left will accept, the Senate is unlikely to confirm. And any nominee the Senate could confirm, the Left is unlikely to accept.
A reliable member of the court’s left-leaning minority, Sotomayor was appointed 15 years ago and will turn 70 years old in a few months. Although she is not known to have serious health problems, she has had Type 1 diabetes since childhood, and records appear to show that she travels with a medic. She has also mentioned fatigue and her unexpected workload at recent events.
Related Coverage
AllSides Picks
Headline Roundup
Which SCOTUS Cases the Media Wants You to Watch and Why
October 6th, 2026
Headline Roundup
Supreme Court Begins New Term With Strained Trump Relationship and Record-Low Approval Rating
October 5th, 2026
The Insight
The Insight: Where Israel and Gaza Stand 3 Years After Oct. 7
AllSides Staff
October 9th, 2026
Story of the Week
Less Than 30 Days Until Midterms
AllSides Staff
October 8th, 2026
More News about Supreme Court
News from the Left
News from the Center
News from the Right
CNBC