SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — The death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia at the age of 79 is sure to send shockwaves through the 2016 presidential race, beginning with tonight’s Republican debate in South Carolina.
Here’s a look at how the candidates are responding to Scalia’s passing:
Ted Cruz
The Texas senator called Scalia “one of the few Justices who single-handedly changed the course of legal history.”
“As liberals and conservatives alike would agree, through his powerful and persuasive opinions, Justice Scalia fundamentally changed how courts interpret the Constitution and statutes, returning the focus to the original meaning of the text after decades of judicial activism. And he authored some of the most important decisions ever, including District of Columbia v. Heller, which recognized our fundamental right under the Second Amendment to keep and bear arms. He was an unrelenting defender of religious liberty, free speech, federalism, the constitutional separation of powers, and private property rights. All liberty-loving Americans should be in mourning.”
John Kasich
The Ohio governor called Scalia’s death “a serious loss to our nation and the Court.”
“He was an essential, principled force for conservative thought and is a model for others to follow. His dedication to the Constitution and love for and service to our country will be deeply missed.”
Donald Trump
Trump offered his “sincerest condolences to the Scalia family.”
“Justice Scalia was a remarkable person and a brilliant Supreme Court Justice, one of the best of all time. His career was defined by his reverence for the Constitution and his legacy of protecting Americans’ most cherished freedoms. He was a Justice who did not believe in legislating from the bench and he is a person whom I held in the highest regard and will always greatly respect his intelligence and conviction to uphold the Constitution of our country.”
Marco Rubio
The Florida senator called Scalia “one of the most consequential Americans in our history and a brilliant legal mind who served with only one objective: to interpret and defend the Constitution as written.”
“One of the greatest honors in my life was to attend oral arguments during Town of Greece v. Galloway and see Justice Scalia eloquently defend religious freedom. I will hold that memory forever. The next president must nominate a justice who will continue Justice Scalia’s unwavering belief in the founding principles that we hold dear.”
Bernie Sanders
The Democratic presidential candidate issued this statement: “While I differed with Justice Scalia’s views and jurisprudence, he was a brilliant, colorful and outspoken member of the Supreme Court. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and his colleagues on the court who mourn his passing.”
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