Kamala Harris to keep seat on Senate Judiciary Committee, boosting potential 2020 bid

close

Video

Kamala Harris could lose seat on Senate Judiciary Committee

Reducing the size of the 21-member Senate Judiciary Committee is reportedly among the actions being considered by Senate Republicans as they prepare for the next Congress.

California Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris, a possible 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, will get to keep her seat on the Senate Judiciary Committee after all.

After Republicans won a net gain of two Senate seats in last month's midterms, Harris faced a possible eviction from the powerful Judiciary Committee. That would have dealt a setback to Harris, who has gained a Democratic following in part by using her post on the committee to sharply question President Trump's judicial nominees.

But on Tuesday, in a potential boost for Harris' 2020 prospects, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on Twitter that she “will get to keep her spot” on the committee. The details of the deal to keep Harris on the committee weren’t immediately revealed.

Harris responded by tweeting that she’s “honored to continue to represent the people of California on the Senate Judiciary Committee & look forward to the critical work ahead.”

Harris’ seat was believed to be in jeopardy after Senate Republicans were reportedly considering reducing the size of the 21-member Senate Judiciary Committee after picking up additional seats in the midterm elections.

Harris was likely to be the person kicked off in that scenario, as the first-term senator is the judiciary committee’s most junior member. Harris – a former state attorney general in California – drew attention during the summer for her questioning of Brett Kavanaugh during his Supreme Court confirmation hearings.

Fox News’ Dom Calicchio and The Associated Press contributed to this report.