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Garland holding first meeting with GOP senator, Kirk of IL

Judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama’s choice to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court, calls on Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, March 28, 2016. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has been steadfast in his refusal to hold a confirmation hearing for any nominee during the waning months of Obama’s presidency. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama’s choice to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court, calls on Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, March 28, 2016. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has been steadfast in his refusal to hold a confirmation hearing for any nominee during the waning months of Obama’s presidency. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama’s choice to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court, calls on Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, March 28, 2016. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has been steadfast in his refusal to hold a confirmation hearing for any nominee during the waning months of Obama’s presidency. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

By Associated Press 2 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Merrick Garland was set to meet Tuesday with Republican Sen. Mark Kirk, marking the Supreme Court nominee’s first courtesy call on a senator whose party leaders have vowed to hold no hearings or vote until a new president is chosen.

Kirk, who represents Democratic-leaning Illinois, is perhaps the most endangered Senate Republican facing re-election in November. And when it comes to the battle over President Barack Obama’s pick to fill the court vacancy, Kirk has been an outlier.

He’s one of just three Senate Republicans to say the Senate Judiciary Committee should hold hearings on Garland. And he’s one of two GOP senators – along with Susan Collins, R-Maine – to say the full chamber should vote on the nominee.

Earlier this month, Kirk said on a Chicago radio program that the Senate should “man up and cast a vote.”

Democrats have been insisting that the Senate go through the regular confirmation process for Garland, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. With most public opinion polls showing majorities favoring action on Garland, Democrats’ goal is to force GOP senators to buckle under pressure or make some of them facing re-election this fall pay the price on Election Day.