(CNN) President Donald Trump's nominee to be the next Supreme Court justice -- Judge Brett Kavanaugh -- will start his Senate confirmation hearings on September 4, the Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley announced Friday.

"He's met with dozens of senators who have nothing but positive things to say," Grassley, an Iowa Republican, said in a statement. "At this current pace, we have plenty of time to review the rest of emails and other records that we will receive from President Bush and the National Archives. It's time for the American people to hear directly from Judge Kavanaugh at his public hearing."

Grassley said he expects the hearing to last three or four days.

Kavanaugh needs just 50 votes to be confirmed. Given the slim 51-49 majority that Republicans have in the chamber and the fact that Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain has been receiving cancer treatment in his home state Republicans cannot afford to lose any votes and hope to advance Kavanaugh's nomination if no Democrats support him. That said, Kavanaugh supporters are targeting several Democratic senators up for re-election this year from states Trump won in 2016 as possible "yes" votes.

Read More