Trump to announce Supreme Court nominee Tuesday
President Barack Obama had nominated Merrick Garland for the post, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to take up the nomination.
When Trump offers the nomination, Senate Democrats and Republicans will immediately face intense political pressure, with liberals demanding that Democrats block the choice and the new president urging McConnell to blow up long-standing rules to secure confirmation.
Federal appeals court Judges William Pryor, Neil Gorsuch and Thomas Hardiman are front-runners to fill the seat, according to a person familiar with the process who discussed the search on condition of anonymity.
Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, a Democrat, indicated Monday that he would make such a move, sending out a fundraising email that asked people to sign a petition saying “the Senate must oppose” Trump’s nominee.
Democrats running for re-election next year in states Trump won in 2016 could face political consequences for their party’s attempted obstruction.
“We will force vulnerable senators up for re-election in 2018 like Joe Donnelly and Claire McCaskill to decide between keeping their Senate seats or following Chuck Schumer’s liberal, obstructionist agenda,” said Carrie Severino, the chief counsel and policy director of the group.