Senate Democrats now have enough votes to try to block Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch with a filibuster, setting up a showdown with Republicans who plan to confirm him anyway.

  • Three Democrats say they'll vote in favor of nominee
  • Many Democrats have threatened to filibuster voting process
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The crucial 41st vote came from Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, who announced his decision Monday as the Senate Judiciary Committee met to vote on Gorsuch's nomination.

Coons said that he had decided to oppose President Donald Trump's nominee over concerns that include his vague answers in his hearing.

Coons' opposition will prevent Republicans from reaching the 60 votes they need to move Gorsuch over procedural hurdles to a final Senate vote.

Determined to confirm him despite Democratic objections, they will likely change Senate rules later this week to reduce the threshold from 60 to a simple majority.

The Senate only has 52 Republicans.

However, three Democrats have announced they will be voting in favor of the nominee.

Sen Joe Manchin from West Virginia, North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp, and most recently, Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly have said they will throw support to Gorsuch.

In fact, Donnelly wrote in a statement:

"I believe that he is a qualified jurist who will base his decisions on his understanding of the law and is well-respected among his peers."

But that still leaves Gorsuch votes short.

If Republicans do not get the number they need they could go for what is being called the "nuclear option" which would involve changing the rules to only need a simple majority or 51 votes to confirm him.

However, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer suggested another nominee might be what is needed.

"It looks like Gorsuch will not reach the 60 votes margin. So instead of changing the rules, which up to Mitch McConnell and the Republican majority, why doesn't President Trump, Democrats and Republicans in the Senate sit down and try to come with a mainstream nominee?" Schumer said.

Many Democrats have threatened to filibuster the voting process this Friday while Republicans will push to get the vote over with before the Senate goes to a two-week recess at the end of the week.