Sen. Tina Smith (D., Minn.) was quick to join protests of President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Monday night, but fellow protestors were equally enthusiastic about making their voices heard.
Smith spoke to protesters standing outside the Supreme Court following Trump's announcement of his nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy.
Yet it was almost impossible to hear her among the continued screams of protesters who appeared less than engaged with what she had to say.
As Smith railed against Kavanaugh, protesters appeared more interested in screaming above the chants of pro-life activists nearby. While discussing her past work at Planned Parenthood, protesters drowned out her words with yells of "My body, my choice!" and "Her body, her choice!"
Smith was appointed to replace former Minnesota Sen. Al Franken, who resigned last year amid sexual misconduct allegations. She faces a tough primary challenge from law professor Richard Painter in her bid to stay in the Senate.
A former Republican, Painter released an ad depicting Washington D.C. as a dumpster fire that needs to be put out. "There is an inferno raging in Washington," he says in an ad, "but here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, we know how to put out a fire."
Smith's opposition to the nominee is in line with Democrats such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.), who vowed to oppose Kavanaugh’s nomination "with everything I’ve got."
Smith tried to rally the already riled up crowd at the end of her speech. "Remember," she said, "you have a strong voice. All of you have a strong voice. All of you have a strong voice, but only if you use it."
Evidently, they did.