washington senators joe manchin heidi heitkamp thursday become first democrats support confirmation president donald trump supreme court nominee neil gorsuch give republicans two eight democratic vote need avoid nasty fight u.s. senate floor next week west virginia manchin north dakota heitkamp re-election next year state vote trump 2016 presidential election hold illusions agree every decision judge gorsuch may issue future find reason jurist supreme court justice manchin say statement manchin meet nominee second time wednesday night heitkamp say gorsuch record balance meticulous well-respected jurist understand rule law confirm senate fill vacancy create february 2016 death conservative justice antonin scalia gorsuch 49 would restore nine-seat high court conservative majority senators maria cantwell washington state catherine cortez masto nevada tammy duckworth illinois say thursday would vote gorsuch announcements mean 35 48 democrats 100-seat senate oppose gorsuch colorado-based federal appellate judge nominate trump january lifetime post high court democrats say would back effort block confirmation vote use procedural hurdle call filibuster require 60 vote allow confirmation vote seek avoid move include chris coons delaware open anyone get reasonable suggestion might slow seem inexorable path towards change rule coons say thursday senate judiciary committee set vote send nomination senate floor april 3. republican senate leaders hope confirm gorsuch april 7. republicans control senate 52-48 mean need win eight democrats block filibuster confirmation vote would require simple majority eleven democrats include coons yet announce whether would vote gorsuch support filibuster democrats say republicans steal supreme court seat last year senate refuse consider democratic former president barack obama nominee merrick garland first two democrats back trump 's supreme court pick