The Senate is on the brink of a historic meltdown over President Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court that would pave the way for his confirmation and move the body a step closer to completely doing away with the ­filibuster.

Democrats on Monday showed they have more than the 41 votes they need to sustain a filibuster against Neil Gorsuch, Trump’s pick for the court.

Republicans say this will lead them to follow through on their promise to go “nuclear,” which would change Senate rules, end the filibuster and allow Gorsuch to be confirmed with a simple majority vote.

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The final showdown will take place Thursday, when the Senate holds a vote to end debate on Gorsuch’s nomination.

Democrats revealed their hand at a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting where the panel approved Gorsuch in an 11-9 party-line vote.

After it was over, Republicans decried the Democrats’ tactics, which many blamed on pressure from left-wing interest groups.

“It now seems apparent that this well-qualified and widely respected judge will be subject to the first successful partisan filibuster [of a Supreme Court nominee] in the history of the Senate,” Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellGOP ramps up attacks on Democrats over talk of nixing filibuster MLB owner: It's 'very necessary' to vote for Trump Delta: Early departures saved flight attendants' jobs MORE (R-Ky.) said on the Senate floor.

He called it a “new low.”

Democrats urged Trump to withdraw Gorsuch’s nomination, but there seems to be no chance of that happening.

McConnell and other veteran GOP senators for weeks have warned that if Democrats block Gorsuch, they will change the body’s rules to force his nomination through.

The fight over Gorsuch is just the latest escalation in the partisan battle over judicial and executive-branch nominees that has led to an erosion of the filibuster.

In 2013, Senate Democrats frustrated by GOP opposition to then-President Barack Obama Barack Hussein ObamaBiden to hold call with Senate Democrats on Thursday: report Romney undecided on authorizing subpoenas for GOP Obama-era probes Billboards in four states and DC demand ICE 'free the families' MORE’s nominees went nuclear and changed the Senate rules to prevent the minority from filibustering any nominees to lower courts.

Senate Republicans in 2016 refused to hold a hearing or vote for Merrick Garland when Obama nominated him on March 16 to succeed late Supreme Court Justice ­Antonin Scalia.

Those episodes have colored the fight over Gorsuch, who emerged relatively unscathed from four days of confirmation hearings last month.

Five leading Democrats who had previously kept quiet on Gorsuch announced Monday that they would vote against him, citing his judicial record and his “evasive” answers during hearings.

Three of them, Sens. Dianne Feinstein Dianne Emiel FeinsteinDemocrats back away from quick reversal of Trump tax cuts Congress must save the Postal Service from collapse — our economy depends on it Emboldened Democrats haggle over 2021 agenda MORE (Calif.), Patrick Leahy Patrick Joseph LeahyBattle over timing complicates Democratic shutdown strategy Hillicon Valley: Russia 'amplifying' concerns around mail-in voting to undermine election | Facebook and Twitter take steps to limit Trump remarks on voting | Facebook to block political ads ahead of election Top Democrats press Trump to sanction Russian individuals over 2020 election interference efforts MORE (Vt.) and Christopher Coons Christopher (Chris) Andrew CoonsConservative activist Lauren Witzke wins GOP Senate primary in Delaware Coons beats back progressive Senate primary challenger in Delaware Democrats back away from quick reversal of Trump tax cuts MORE (Del.), opposed him in the Judiciary Committee vote.

Sen. Mark Warner Mark Robert WarnerOvernight Defense: Trump hosts Israel, UAE, Bahrain for historic signing l Air Force reveals it secretly built and flew new fighter jet l Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' House approves bill to secure internet-connected federal devices against cyber threats Senate panel seeks documents in probe of DHS whistleblower complaint MORE (Va.), a centrist with a record of working with Republicans, announced his opposition during the markup.

A fifth Democrat, Sen. Ben Cardin Benjamin (Ben) Louis CardinPPP application window closes after coronavirus talks deadlock Congress eyes tighter restrictions on next round of small business help Senate passes extension of application deadline for PPP small-business loans MORE (Md.), who had declined to endorse a filibuster of the nominee, said Monday afternoon he would vote to block the nominee because he worried Gorsuch would not be an “independent check” on Trump.

Only four Democrats have said they would vote against the filibuster. Three of them are centrists from states Trump won easily last year: Sens. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinOVERNIGHT ENERGY: House Democrats tee up vote on climate-focused energy bill next week | EPA reappoints controversial leader to air quality advisory committee | Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' Senate Democrats demand White House fire controversial head of public lands agency House Democrats tee up vote on climate-focused energy bill next week MORE (W.Va.), Heidi Heitkamp Mary (Heidi) Kathryn HeitkampCentrists, progressives rally around Harris pick for VP 70 former senators propose bipartisan caucus for incumbents Susan Collins set to play pivotal role in impeachment drama MORE (N.D.) and Joe Donnelly Joseph (Joe) Simon DonnellyEx-Sen. Joe Donnelly endorses Biden Lobbying world 70 former senators propose bipartisan caucus for incumbents MORE (Ind.).

A fourth, Sen. Michael Bennet Michael Farrand BennetOVERNIGHT ENERGY: House Democrats tee up vote on climate-focused energy bill next week | EPA reappoints controversial leader to air quality advisory committee | Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' Senate Democrats demand White House fire controversial head of public lands agency Next crisis, keep people working and give them raises MORE (Colo.), is from Gorsuch’s home state.

Sen. Angus King Angus KingOn The Trail: How Nancy Pelosi could improbably become president Angus King: Ending election security briefings 'looks like a pre-cover-up' USDA commits to trade aid for lobster industry using coronavirus coffers MORE (Maine), an independent who caucuses with Democrats, has yet to publicly state their positions.

McConnell held out hope Monday afternoon that some of his Democratic colleagues might be persuaded to change their minds.

He will devote the rest of this week’s schedule exclusively to debating the nomination instead of putting it on a parallel track with legislative business, as was done with other Trump nominees this year.

“It’s not too late for our Democratic colleagues to make the right choice,” McConnell said.

If Democrats block Gorsuch on Thursday, McConnell is expected to trigger the nuclear option. That would set up a final confirmation vote for Friday, before Congress is scheduled to leave for a two-week recess.

Democrats are under enormous pressure to oppose Gorsuch, in part because of the lingering bad feelings over Garland’s treatment, but also because their base is so fired up against Trump.

As a result, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are pessimistic about the chances of striking a deal.

Sen. Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamGOP senators say coronavirus deal dead until after election Tucker Carlson accuses Lindsey Graham of convincing Trump to talk to Woodward Trump courts Florida voters with moratorium on offshore drilling MORE (R-S.C.), a member of the Judiciary Committee, said a rule change is all but inevitable.

“If we have to, we will change the rules, and it looks like we’re going to have to,” he told colleagues Monday. “I hate that. I really, really do.”

A small group of Democratic centrists led by Manchin is making the argument to Democratic colleagues that they should allow Gorsuch to advance to preserve their power to filibuster a future nominee who could tip ideological the balance of the high court.

“There’s a group of people making that argument privately,” said one Democratic senator, who rejected it on grounds that he thinks Republicans will be just as likely to change the rules to fill the next court vacancy with a conservative.

A few GOP senators, including Sens. Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsGOP short of votes on Trump's controversial Fed pick Congress must save the Postal Service from collapse — our economy depends on it Garcetti: I would have acted sooner if Trump hadn't downplayed virus MORE (Maine), John McCain John Sidney McCainCOVID response shows a way forward on private gun sale checks Trump pulls into must-win Arizona trailing in polls Nonprofit 9/11 Day bashes Trump for airing political ads on Sept. 11 anniversary MORE (Ariz.) and Bob Corker Robert (Bob) Phillips CorkerHas Congress captured Russia policy? Tennessee primary battle turns nasty for Republicans Cheney clashes with Trump MORE (Tenn.), have expressed misgivings about the looming rule change.

Corker warned on the Senate floor that the power to filibuster legislation may disappear next because of growing pressure from each party’s base.

Two additional Republicans, Sens. Lamar Alexander Andrew (Lamar) Lamar AlexanderNow is the time to renew our focus on students and their futures CDC says asymptomatic people don't need testing, draws criticism from experts Davis: The Hall of Shame for GOP senators who remain silent on Donald Trump MORE (Tenn.) and Lisa Murkowski Lisa Ann MurkowskiGOP ramps up attacks on Democrats over talk of nixing filibuster OVERNIGHT ENERGY: House Democrats tee up vote on climate-focused energy bill next week | EPA reappoints controversial leader to air quality advisory committee | Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' House Democrats tee up vote on climate-focused energy bill next week MORE (Alaska), pointedly declined to say Monday evening whether they would vote for the nuclear option.

McCain warned that a rule change may come back to haunt Republicans.

“Just as the Democrats regretted deeply what Harry Reid Harry Mason ReidBottom line Filibuster fight looms if Democrats retake Senate Biden unites Democrats — for now MORE [Nev.] did, we’ll regret what we did,” he said, referring to the Senate Democratic leader who ushered in the 2013 change.

Still, there will be tremendous pressure on Republicans to back McConnell’s move.

Graham, a former member of the bipartisan Gang of 14 that brokered a deal in 2005 to preserve judicial filibusters, said it would be “stupid” for the GOP to agree to any deal that entails a promise not to change the filibuster rule for the next vacancy if Gorsuch is confirmed.

“That would be a stupid, stupid deal, because there’s nobody more qualified that Trump could have chosen,” he said.

A senior Senate Democratic aide dismissed the possibility of a deal, predicting that Democrats would stand firm in their opposition.

“It’s not going to happen. Democrats don’t believe he should be on the court, and a deal is not enforceable,” the aide said.