Senate Democrats vow to block Trump nominees if they win majority in midterms

Senate Democrats, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, vow to block President Donald Trump's judicial and cabinet nominees if they win the Senate majority in the 2026 midterms. Citing Mitch McConnell's 2016 blockade of Merrick Garland, Democrats plan to halt Supreme Court and lower court appointments. The stakes are heightened by speculation surrounding Justice Samuel Alito's potential retirement, even as a new Gallup poll shows Democratic support hitting 50 percent, its highest level since 2009.

Democratic opposition to Trump nominees

• ▪Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso stated that a Democratic-controlled Senate would block every single one of President Donald Trump's nominees, including cabinet members and constitutionalist judges.
• ▪Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that a Democratic-controlled Senate would confirm very few of President Donald Trump's nominees, specifically noting that nominees of poor quality would not get through.
• ▪Senator Richard Blumenthal stated that Democrats would block unqualified, right-wing judicial nominees who refuse to answer who won the 2020 presidential election.
• ▪Senator Richard Blumenthal stated that the probability of a Democratic-led Senate supporting a Supreme Court nominee from the Trump administration is slim to none.

Impact of Senate control on confirmations

• ▪If Republicans retain Senate control, President Donald Trump will maintain a path to fill judicial vacancies, adding to his total of 290 federal judges confirmed under GOP control.
• ▪A Democratic-controlled Senate would give the party power to determine which of President Donald Trump's federal judicial nominees receive hearings and confirmation votes.

Recent Gallup poll results

• ▪The 50 percent Democratic identification in the October 5, 2026, Gallup poll represents the highest level of support for the Democratic Party since 2009.
• ▪A Gallup poll released on October 5, 2026, shows that 50 percent of Americans identify as Democrats or lean Democratic, compared to 39 percent who identify as or lean Republican.

Supreme Court ages and retirement

• ▪The oldest sitting Supreme Court justices are Clarence Thomas at 78 years old and Samuel Alito at 76 years old, followed by Sonia Sotomayor at 72 and John Roberts at 71.
• ▪Senator Darline Graham stated that a Republican-majority Senate is needed to confirm a Supreme Court nominee from President Donald Trump should Justice Samuel Alito choose to retire in 2027.
• ▪Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, who is 76 years old, stated in a CBS News interview that he considered retirement earlier in 2026 but decided against it.

The 2016 Supreme Court blockade

• ▪In 2016, Senate Republicans led by Mitch McConnell refused to hold hearings or vote on President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland, leaving the seat vacant for 10 months.
• ▪Senator Ruben Gallego stated that Senate Democrats must block President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominees to replicate the blockade strategy used by Mitch McConnell in 2016.

Debatable claims

• ▪Senate Democrats should block any Supreme Court nominee proposed by Donald Trump
• ▪The White House is justified in banning specific news organizations from Air Force One
• ▪Refusing to acknowledge the 2020 election results is sufficient grounds to reject a judicial nominee