RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A Democratic senator who broke from her party to support Republicans' pick for the Virginia Supreme Court says she has changed her mind.
Democratic Sen. Louise Lucas joined Republicans on the Senate Court of Justice Committee Tuesday in endorsing Court of Appeals Judge Rossie Alston for the high court. Lucas said she agreed to it in exchange for her neighbor and political mentor being put on the appeals court.
But about an hour later, Lucas told The Associated Press that she changed her mind after meeting with Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe. A McAuliffe spokesman said it's his understanding that Lucas now will be supporting the governor's pick, Justice Jane Marum Roush.
That would leave Republicans without enough votes to get Alston's nomination through the full Senate.