Democrats need 41 senators to filibuster President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee. 43 Democrats have said they support a filibuster. 41 If Democrats filibuster, Republicans might use the so-called nuclear option.

President Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Judge Neil M. Gorsuch, needs a simple majority of 51 votes to be confirmed by the Senate this week. But he faces another obstacle first — a filibuster by Democrats that would prevent the vote from occurring at all.

Before the Senate can vote on Mr. Gorsuch’s confirmation, it must hold a procedural cloture vote to end debate, which requires 60 votes to pass. A filibuster essentially occurs when lawmakers refuse to end debate to move on to a final vote.

If at least 41 Democrats and independents* filibuster (by voting “no” in the cloture vote), it would prevent it from passing. Passes FAILS Republicans are expected to use the nuclear option, essentially changing Senate rules so that only 51 votes are needed to pass the cloture vote. Then Republicans can hold another cloture vote to end debate with only 51 votes. FAILS Passes Republicans need only 51 votes to confirm Mr. Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. If at least 41 Democrats and independents* filibuster (by voting “no” in the cloture vote), it would prevent it from passing. Passes FAILS Republicans are expected to use the nuclear option, essentially changing Senate rules so that only 51 votes are needed to pass the cloture vote. Then Republicans can hold another cloture vote to end debate with only 51 votes. FAILS Passes Republicans need only 51 votes to confirm Mr. Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.

A filibuster would force Republicans to choose between withdrawing Mr. Gorsuch’s nomination (an unlikely prospect) and using the nuclear option, which would change Senate rules to override the filibuster and allow his confirmation vote to go forward.

How Democrats Plan to Vote

E Up for re-election in 2018 Solid Trump states

43 Support filibuster 1 Undecided or unclear 4 Against filibuster