Alito Says He Won't Retire From Supreme Court Soon as Democrats Win Senate Majority
Photo: The New York TimesSupreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, 76, does not plan to retire immediately, and is committed to serving through at least the current term ending in late June, despite Democrats' win of the Senate in Tuesday's midterm elections. Two people close to him told The New York Times he shared his plans after the results were clear, and Alito confirmed to Fox News on Thursday that he has no plans to retire. Democrats will firmly control the Senate when the new Congress begins in January. The Daily Wire reported that Republicans lost at least seven seats, with races in Mississippi and Alaska still too close to call. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis posted Tuesday night that the chance of confirming a successor to Alito or Justice Clarence Thomas, 78, during Trump's term is zero. Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that Republicans could be shut out of Senate control until at least 2032 and blamed the war for the losses.
The New York Times, the left-leaning outlet here, leads with Alito's decision, framing it as notable given that Democrats are set to take the Senate, and relies on his friends as sources. Fox News, on the right, leads with Alito's own confirmation to the network, then stresses the midterm result as a disastrous GOP performance and quotes DeSantis on the dim confirmation prospects. The Daily Wire frames the story as a GOP wipeout raising court stakes, centering Vance's blunt remarks and noting that Alito, Roberts and Thomas are all in their 70s. Both sides agree on the core facts: no immediate retirement and a Democratic Senate. Reason, an independent outlet, adds that its author long predicted neither Alito nor Thomas would retire this term and points to other nominations.
How the sides differ Left sources stress Alito's plan to stay through the term despite the Senate loss; right sources add GOP election-loss fallout, DeSantis and Vance; alternative sources doubted a vacancy.
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The New York Times leads with Alito telling friends he won't leave before the term ends, even though Democrats are set to take the Senate in January.
Reason relays the Times and Bloomberg reports, says Republicans may have missed their window, and notes its author's earlier prediction that neither Alito nor Thomas would retire. It also flags other nominations.
Fox News stresses Alito's direct confirmation and DeSantis's warnings about confirmations; the Daily Wire emphasizes the GOP's midterm losses and Vance's remarks on Senate control until 2032.