At the close of the Democratic debate Tuesday night, former vice president Joe Biden made an unexpected pledge to nominate a black woman to the Supreme Court, prompting some of the loudest cheers of the debate. He repeated the promise Wednesday, saying he would be “honored” to do it, while accepting an endorsement from Rep. Jim Clyburn (R-S.C.).

Within hours, the website Vox published a list of black women jurists who could fill the job. And Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) took at a swipe at former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, joking that she “announced she already won the SCOTUS nomination last year.”

Though some critics may dismiss it as pandering, a promise like this has a proven track record. Ronald Reagan vowed to put a woman on the Supreme Court; it was a key part of his campaign for president in 1980.