Democratic senators are digging in ahead of a looming showdown over President Trump’s pick to lead the FBI.

Trump could announce his nominee to head the embattled agency as soon as this week. The move is expected to spark what is shaping up to be a partisan showdown in the wake of James Comey’s firing — a decision that roiled much of Washington.

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Democrats are already pledging to use hardball tactics to get a special prosecutor to oversee the FBI’s investigation into Russia’s meddling in the presidential election. However, if Republicans unify around Trump’s selection, Democrats don’t have the votes to block the nominee

Regardless, a growing number of Democratic senators are signaling they are open to delaying the next FBI director until they get the Justice Department to appoint a special prosecutor.

“I think it’s very important that the first step be the appointment of a special prosecutor. That is the only way that the American public can have confidence in the justice system,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said on MSNBC on Monday.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerMcConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security Warren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt Schumer lashes out at Trump over 'blue states' remark: 'What a disgrace' MORE (D-N.Y.) said over the weekend that he backs a special prosecutor, adding, “I think there are a lot of Democrats who feel that way.”

Democrats have demanded an independent counsel for months, but in the wake of Comey’s firing — only the second time an FBI director has been let go for cause — their demands are reaching a fever pitch.

Sen. 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 (D-Vt.), the former chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said Trump’s statements have put whomever he picks in a politically unenviable position.

“The new FBI director has to say we’ll have an independent investigation,” he said. “The president has already said his standard for FBI director is he has to be loyal. … It puts the FBI director in an impossible position. That’s why you need a special prosecutor.”

They argue that the FBI’s investigation could be “tainted” because of Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsTrump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez call for convention to decide Puerto Rico status White House officials voted by show of hands on 2018 family separations: report MORE’s role in the decision to fire Comey and pick his replacement despite recusing himself from any involvement in the Russia investigation.

A partisan fight would be a break from the traditionally bipartisan support for an FBI director and is already threatening to eat up the Senate’s limited bandwidth and overshadow two of the GOP’s biggest priorities: healthcare and tax reform.

It took Comey — who was approved 93-1 — nearly two months to be confirmed in 2013 after being nominated by former President Barack Obama Barack Hussein ObamaThe Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Don't expect a government check anytime soon Trump appointees stymie recommendations to boost minority voting: report Obama's first presidential memoir, 'A Promised Land,' set for November release MORE.

Democrats are warning that they could pull out all of the procedural stops for Comey’s successor.

They have multiple tools to slow walk Trump’s nominee, including delaying a vote in the Judiciary Committee and dragging out debate on the Senate floor. They’ve also signaled they are willing to jam up the Senate by blocking routine committee requests to push Republicans.

Seventy-eight percent of Americans support having a special prosecutor or independent commission oversee the investigation, which also includes potential ties between Trump campaign associates and Russia, according to a recent NBC News–Wall Street Journal poll.

Yet Republicans have a 52-seat majority in the upper chamber and can lose up to two GOP senators, allowing Vice President Pence to break a tie.

Democrats would also need to stop any red-state Democrats, such as Sen. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinBiden promises Democratic senators help in battleground states Senate leaders quash talk of rank-and-file COVID-19 deal 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' MORE (D-W.Va.), from supporting Trump’s nominee. Republicans will likely target the 10 Democrats up for reelection next year in states carried by Trump.

Democrats — under intense pressure from the left to oppose Trump’s entire agenda — are also warning that a current lawmaker shouldn’t expect a glide path to confirmation, a veiled warning against picking John Cornyn John CornynAirline job cuts loom in battleground states Senate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll MORE (Texas), the No. 2 Senate Republican, who interviewed for the job over the weekend.

Asked hypothetically if he could support any of Trump’s floated nominees if Democrats got a special prosecutor, Van Hollen stressed that the president’s pick needed to be nonpartisan.

“We have to have someone at the helm of the FBI that is not connected to partisan politics in any way. In my view, that would mean it should not be somebody that is a current or former member of Congress,” he said.

Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse Sheldon WhitehouseLWCF modernization: Restoring the promise Restaurant owner defends calamari as 'bipartisan' after Democratic convention appearance Warren calls on McConnell to bring Senate back to address Postal Service MORE (R.I.) made similar comments in the wake of Comey’s firing, a break with the Senate’s traditionally clubby atmosphere.

Democrats could get some help on that demand. Sen. Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamThe Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters Senate Democrats' campaign arm announces seven-figure investment to boost Graham challenger Graham: Comey to testify about FBI's Russia probe, Mueller declined invitation MORE (R-S.C.) specifically called out Cornyn, telling NBC News that under normal circumstances, he would “be a superb choice to be FBI director. But these are not normal circumstances.”

Cornyn was tight-lipped on Monday about his meeting, characterizing it as a “chat among friends” and telling reporters that he doesn’t currently have any followup interviews scheduled. Cornyn’s position as GOP whip is term-limited and will expire at the end of this Congress.

But Democrats’ push for a special prosecutor has failed to gain traction with Republicans. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled McConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security Warren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt MORE (R-Ky.) signaled in the wake of Comey’s firing that he remains strongly opposed to a special prosecutor.

Despite the political backlash, firing Comey has had little immediate impact on Trump’s already low approval ratings. Thirty-nine percent of Americans approve of Trump, according to the NBC News–Wall Street Journal poll that was conducted after the decision, only 1 percentage point lower than the April poll.

Instead, Republicans want Trump to move quickly to fill the critical national security post and warn Democrats against overplaying their hand after largely helping confirm Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

“That would basically be inconsistent with that bipartisan vote of confidence for [Rosenstein],” Cornyn said when asked about Democratic threats to slow walk.

Rosenstein will have to make the decision about whether to pursue any prosecutions stemming out of the FBI’s investigation.

Asked about Democrats’ threats, Don Stewart, a spokesman for McConnell, noted that Democrats had taken a tough line on most Trump nominees.

“It’s not a surprise that they’d want to prevent the FBI from having a new leader, too, in the middle of terrorist threats here and around the globe,” he said.

Sen. John Thune John Randolph ThuneThe Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Don't expect a government check anytime soon The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine, masks Senate GOP eyes early exit MORE (R-S.D.), another member of leadership, argued the Democratic effort is a nonstarter.

“You’ve got to have the votes,” Thune said of the push to hold up the nominee. “I assume, when it’s time to vote, we’ll have the votes.”