WASHINGTON — As Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh’s dramatic confirmation process lurches forward, all eyes are on five moderate, and as yet undecided, senators who will either send him to the nation’s highest court or deal a stunning defeat to President Trump and the Republican Party by derailing his nomination.

Their calculations were upended weeks ago when Christine Blasey Ford came forward to accuse Judge Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her at a party in high school, which he has unequivocally denied.

Now, not only must the senators grapple with whether to confirm Mr. Kavanaugh based on how his qualifications square with the attitudes of their constituents, but they must also weigh something more politically treacherous: his credibility and temperament in the #MeToo era in the face of multiple accusations of sexual misconduct.

Three are Republicans: Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Jeff Flake of Arizona, none of whom are facing the political pressures of re-election this year. And two are Democrats fighting to keep their seats in red states: Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Manchin III of West Virginia.