Nearly three months after President Obama nominated Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court, the Senate is expected to vote Thursday to confirm her for the bench. Democrats, supported by five Republicans who have said they will vote for Kagan, have more than enough votes to ensure her confirmation to fill the court vacancy created by the retirement of Justice John Paul Stevens. Kagan could attract additional GOP support in the coming days. Some moderate Republicans, including Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., one of Kagan's home state senators, have not announced their intentions. Kagan appears set to win more support than Justice Samuel Alito did when he was confirmed to the high court in 2006 with 58 votes, the lowest tally since Clarence Thomas' confirmation 1991 when he received the votes of 52 senators. However, Kagan will likely draw fewer votes than Obama's first nominee to the court, Sonia Sotomayor, who was confirmed with 68 votes last year. The opinion of Senate Democrats is not unanimous. Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., announced last week that he would vote against Kagan. 'I have heard concerns from Nebraskans regarding Ms. Kagan,' Nelson said, 'and her lack of a judicial record makes it difficult for me to discount the concerns.' The Senate consists of 57 Democrats, 41 Republicans and two independents who caucus with the Democrats. During floor debate Tuesday, Republicans claimed that Kagan was more in tune with partisan politics than with the original meaning of the Constitution. Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, contended that Kagan will be an 'activist, liberal, progressive, politically minded judge who will advance her causes under the guise of judging.' He has announced plans to vote against her nomination. Texas' senators, Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, both Republicans, have also said they will vote against Kagan. During floor debate Tuesday, Cornyn said he feared Kagan would expand the powers of the federal government. Her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee 'did not persuade me that she agrees with. . . (a)traditional role for a judge,' Cornyn said. 'We need a justice who will follow the law and follow and enforce the Constitution of the United States.' Democratic senators defended Kagan and noted that some conservative lawyers have endorsed her selection. In a letter distributed by Democrats, Michael McConnell, a former federal appeals court judge appointed by President George W. Bush, wrote, 'Kagan has demonstrated a fidelity to legal principle even when it means crossing her political and ideological allies.' The expected Senate vote on Thursday will be one of the last actions before the lawmakers being a six-week recess. 