Donnelly to back Gorsuch nomination to Supreme Court

Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly says he'll support the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Donnelly, a Democrat, announced his decision on Sunday, calling Gorsuch "a qualified jurist who will base his decisions on his understanding of the law and is well-respected among his peers."

Donnelly faces a tough re-election next year. He joins two other moderate Democrats who are backing Gorsuch and are up for re-election in states President Donald Trump won. They are Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota.

The 49-year-old Gorsuch has served more than a decade as a federal appeals court judge based in Denver.