'Expand the court': Democratic lawmakers react with fury as the GOP claims victory over Amy Coney Barrett nomination

• Democratic lawmakers slammed Senate Republicans for confirming Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court on Monday.
• Senate Republicans confirmed the nomination in a 52-48 vote, with Sen. Susan Collins of Maine as the only Republican who joined Democrats in opposition.
• Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for vice president, condemned the decision by her Republican colleagues.
• "Today Republicans denied the will of the American people by confirming a Supreme Court justice through an illegitimate process — all in their effort to gut the Affordable Care Act and strip health care from millions with pre-existing conditions," Harris wrote in a tweet following the Senate vote.

Democratic lawmakers reacted with fury Monday to the confirmation and subsequent swearing in of Judge Amy Coney Barrett as a Supreme Court justice.

Senate Republicans confirmed Barrett in a 52-48 vote Monday, with Sen. Susan Collins as the only Republican who joined Democratic senators in opposition.

Barrett was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in an event at the White House shortly after the Senate vote. Barrett is the third justice appointed to the Supreme Court by President Donald Trump, the most of any president since Ronald Reagan.

Democratic lawmakers expressed their disappointment and anger with the Senate for approving Barrett so close to a presidential election — eight days before Election Day and with voting already taking place across the country.

Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for vice president, was among those condemning the decision by her Republican colleagues.

"Today Republicans denied the will of the American people by confirming a Supreme Court justice through an illegitimate process — all in their effort to gut the Affordable Care Act and strip health care from millions with pre-existing conditions," Harris wrote in a tweet following the Senate vote.

She added: "We won't forget this."

Harris said in a statement that Senate Republicans "have ignored the will of the people, deciding instead to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg — who devoted her life to fighting for equal justice — with someone who was selected to undo her legacy."

"The American people see this confirmation for what it is: an illegitimate move that will set our country back for generations," she said in the statement.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also slammed the decision in a statement Monday, saying Trump and Senate Republicans "have committed an act of supreme desperation by jamming through a Supreme Court justice — all so that they can achieve their years-long campaign to destroy Americans' healthcare."

"We must have a Congress that is prepared to remedy what the Supreme Court will do to undermine the health, financial security, and well-being of American families," she said.

Freshman Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib called to expand the Supreme Court in light of Barrett's nomination.

"We are going to take back the White House & Senate next week with a resounding mandate from the people to fight back against Trump's illegitimately stacked judiciary," Tlaib tweeted Monday. "We must expand the Court if we're serious about the transformational change the people are crying out for."