many u.s. senate democrats seek block confirmation vote neil gorsuch federal appellate judge nominate president donald trump become supreme court justice unclear whether get necessary vote senate judiciary committee set vote send nomination senate floor republican senate leaders hope confirm gorsuch april 7. friday morning 37 46 democrats two independents align 100-seat senate publicly announce opposition gorsuch 35 say would back effort block confirmation vote via procedural hurdle call filibuster democrats need 41 vote sustain filibuster two democrats joe manchin west virginia heidi heitkamp north dakota announce support gorsuch republicans control senate 52-48 mean need win eight vote block filibuster confirmation vote would require simple majority 51 vote eight democrats one independent angus king maine yet announce whether would vote gorsuch support filibuster look senators michael bennet colorado gorsuch fellow coloradoan bennet introduce gorsuch last week senate judiciary committee confirmation hear introduction bennet criticize republicans refusal last year consider former president barack obama nominee supreme court seat gorsuch would occupy confirm bennet say two wrong never make right chris coons delaware indicate may support deal avoid filibuster joe donnelly indiana re-election 2018 state trump 2016. position unclear dianne feinstein california senior democrat senate judiciary committee oversee gorsuch confirmation hear angus king maine senator independent normally vote democrats position unclear claire mccaskill missouri re-election 2018 state trump 2016. position unclear bob menendez new jersey position unclear jon tester montana re-election 2018 state trump 2016. position unclear mark warner virginia position unclear factbox democrats oppose trump supreme court pick