Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellGraham: GOP will confirm Trump's Supreme Court nominee before the election Trump puts Supreme Court fight at center of Ohio rally The Memo: Dems face balancing act on SCOTUS fight MORE (R-Ky.) is turning the Senate toward the confirmation of President Trump Donald John TrumpBubba Wallace to be driver of Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin NASCAR team Graham: GOP will confirm Trump's Supreme Court nominee before the election Southwest Airlines, unions call for six-month extension of government aid MORE's attorney general nominee.

McConnell, wrapping up the chamber's work week on Thursday, teed up an initial vote on Barr for next week after the chamber finishes a public lands package.

McConnell praised Barr, who previously served as attorney general to President George H.W. Bush, on Thursday, calling him a "tried and true public servant."

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"Before us is a nominee who remains imminently well qualified to discharge these duties," McConnell said. "The Senate needs to act quickly to put Bill Barr back to work at the Justice Department. I hope and expect he'll be confirmed next week."

The Senate Judiciary Committee kicked Barr's nomination to the full Senate earlier Thursday in a 12-10 party line vote.

Democrats' path to blocking Barr, already uphill, grew more challenging on Thursday. Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) became the first Democrat to say they will support Barr.

With Jones's defection, Democrats would need to flip five Republican senators and keep the rest of their caucus united if they want to defeat his nomination.

Several other potential swing votes, including Sen. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinTrump meets with potential Supreme Court pick Amy Coney Barrett at White House Names to watch as Trump picks Ginsburg replacement on Supreme Court Momentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day MORE (D-W.Va.), haven't yet said how they will vote.