Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer has vowed to block President Trump’s judicial picks once Democrats control the chamber in January.
The New York Democrat led his caucus to a resounding victory on Election Day and is confident that he will be elected the next Senate majority leader.
“The bottom line is we’re not going to allow a right-winger” on the Supreme Court, he told The Associated Press.
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He was noncommittal on whether Democrats would hold off on filling a potential vacancy on the high court until after the 2028 presidential election.
The Democratic caucus will take control of the Senate with 54 to 56 seats on Jan. 3 — a comfortable majority that could weather multiple election cycles.
The Supreme Court currently has a conservative majority, with six of nine justices appointed by Republican presidents.
Justice Samuel Alito, 76, said after Election Day that he has no plans to retire in the lame-duck session before Democrats assume control of the Senate.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, South Dakota Republican, previously said Republicans would be prepared to confirm a Supreme Court Justice if a seat opens during the lame-duck session.
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