The jarring first-person account is a marked escalation from Feinstein’s cryptic statement last week, which referred to “information from an individual concerning the nomination” of Kavanaugh that she’d received in July. Though the individual had requested anonymity and declined to press charges, Feinstein “referred the matter to federal investigative authorities.” The statement’s vagueness infuriated Democrats, who accused Feinstein of derailing their best chance to block Kavanaugh. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans, who released their own letter in which 65 women defended Kavanaugh’s character, told Axios that they were suspicious of the timing of the on-the-record allegations: “If Ranking Member Feinstein and other committee Democrats took this claim seriously, they should have brought it to the full committee’s attention much earlier.”

Far more than ominous hints and clandestine letters, Ford’s interview could be a bona fide threat to Kavanaugh’s confirmation, potentially setting Republicans back in their attempt to fill Anthony Kennedy’s seat before a midterm election that could jeopardize their hold on the Senate. After the interview’s publication, Arizona’s Jeff Flake, who sits on the Judiciary Committee, joined Democrats in calling for a delay in the vote on Kavanaugh, telling the Post that Ford “must be heard.” “I’ve made it clear that I’m not comfortable moving ahead with the vote on Thursday if we have not heard her side of the story or explored this further,” he said. He was joined late Sunday by Bob Corker, who does not sit on the committee, but whose vote is nonetheless crucial for Kavanaugh’s confirmation. “I think that [delaying the vote] would be best for all involved, including the nominee,” Corker told Politico. “If she does want to be heard, she should do so promptly.” Chairman Chuck Grassley is reportedly working to arrange follow-up phone calls with both Kavanaugh and Ford before the vote takes place.

In the aftermath of confirmation hearings, and despite Democrats’ best efforts, Kavanaugh appeared to be a shoo-in. Now, the calculus has changed drastically. Once again, all eyes are on Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, both moderate Republicans, and both of whom profess to be proponents of women’s rights. Both senators would need to flip in order for the Democrats to successfully block Kavanaugh’s nomination, and as recently as last week, they seemed virtually assured to vote for the federal judge, with Collins stating she was confident that Kavanaugh would not overturn Roe v. Wade. Allegations of sexual assault—particularly on the record—could alter their votes significantly. Murkowski, too, called for the committee’s vote to be delayed, telling CNN, ”The hearings are now over, and if there is real substance to this, it demands a response. That may be something the committee needs to look into.” And on Sunday, Collins said she was “surprised” by the allegations.

Republicans, according to Axios, had been betting that Ford would decline an invitation to testify before the Judiciary Committee, which would have given them an opening to question the legitimacy of her claims. But Ford appears ready to call their bluff: on Monday, her lawyer told the Today show that she is willing to testify, and believes the attack was “an attempted rape.” If Kavanaugh’s nomination stalls, the G.O.P. will be hard-pressed to squeeze another nominee through before the midterm election. But if he is confirmed in spite of Ford’s allegations, Republicans could further alienate millennial women, who are already skeptical of the party, and who promise to comprise a significant voting bloc in November.