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Senate Democrats have enough votes to filibuster Gorsuch nomination
U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Christopher Coons (D-Del.) and Al Franken (D-Minn.) huddle March 22 during the third day of Judge Neil Gorsuch's Supreme Court confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. CNN reported that the Senate Democrats have enough votes in their caucus to filibuster Gorsuch's nomination. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Senate Democrats have enough votes to filibuster Gorsuch nomination

Senate Democrats have enough votes in their caucus to filibuster the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, according to CNN.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called for members of his party to filibuster Gorsuch’s nomination, denying him the 60-vote threshold needed to end debate on his nomination.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has indicated that Republicans will use the nuclear option to confirm Gorsuch, allowing them to circumvent that threshold and allow the body to confirm Gorsuch with a simple majority vote.

During former President Barack Obama’s administration, Democrats used the nuclear option to confirm district and circuit court judges.

Before a Senate Judiciary Committee vote Monday on advancing Gorsuch’s nomination to the full Senate, Sen. Chris Coons, (D-Del.) said he is “not ready to end debate on this issue,” becoming the 41st senator willing to filibuster Gorsuch.

“I will be voting against cloture unless we are able as a body to finally sit down and find a way to avoid the nuclear option, and ensure the process to fill the next vacancy on the court is not a narrowly partisan process, but rather an opportunity of both parties to weigh in and ensure we place a judge on the court who can secure support from members of both parties," Coons said.

According to CNN, as of Monday morning, Gorsuch has 55 votes, including three Democratic senators — Sens. Joe Donnelly (Ind.), Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.) and Joe Manchin (W.Va) — who have announced that they intend to vote for his confirmation to the Supreme Court.

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