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AI Overview

Many Republican senators have expressed strong support for retaining 
the "blue slip" tradition for district court and U.S. attorney nominees, 
largely as a mechanism to preserve home-state influence and
prevent future Democratic administrations from appointing liberal judges in conservative states. 

Senators who have publicly supported keeping the blue slip process include:

Chuck Grassley (R-IA): 
As a former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Grassley has been a staunch defender of the practice, 
arguing that it helps set nominees up for successful confirmations 
and was used by Republicans to block liberal judges during the Biden administration.

John Thune (R-SD): 
The current Senate Majority Leader has consistently defended the practice, 
noting both sides have used it historically and 
that there is little interest in changing it within the GOP conference.

Thom Tillis (R-NC): 
A member of the Judiciary Committee, 
Tillis called the idea of eliminating blue slips a "terrible, short-sighted ploy" 
that would ultimately benefit Democrats in the long term.

Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Jim Risch (R-ID): 
Both Idaho senators have long supported the process, 
using it to ensure consultation and influence over judicial appointments 
within their home state during Democratic administrations.

John Kennedy (R-LA): 
A Judiciary Committee member, Kennedy has stated that "The Senate's not going to give up the blue slip" 
and appealed to others not to create a fight over the issue. 

In general, most Senate Republicans are unified 
in their opposition to ending the blue slip for district-level nominees, 
seeing it as an important institutional power that protects their ability 
to have a say in local federal appointments, 
regardless of who occupies the White House.