WASHINGTON — If Democrats fail to retain the majority in the Senate in November, watch for them to move as quickly as possible to replace outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder.

Several Senate sources said that a lame duck vote on whomever President Obama nominates to succeed Holder would likely happen regardless of the outcome of the November elections, but if Republicans win enough seats to take control next year, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is expected to waste no time in pushing through Obama's nominee.

A senate leadership aide said that it was "way too early" to speculate on timing of a confirmation.

But the timing of the resignation allows Democrats, if they lose, to act fast because they will still be able to confirm presidential nominees with a simple majority during the lame duck session.

Republicans have already signaled that they'll be ready to oppose any move to confirm a nominee in the lame duck session. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley put out a statement saying that since Holder had committed to staying until a replacement was confirmed, the Senate should take it's time to "vet a nominee thoroughly."

"Rather than rush a nominee through the Senate in a lame duck session, I hope the President will now take his time to nominate a qualified individual who can start fresh relationships with Congress so that we can solve the problems facing our country,' Grassley said.

Sen. Ted Cruz, who called Holder an "extreme partisan," also has warned against any significant work happening during a lame duck.

"Allowing Democratic senators, many of whom will likely have just been defeated at the polls, to confirm Holder's successor would be an abuse of power that should not be countenanced," Cruz said in a statement.