Democrats temporarily blocked Judge Neil Gorsuch’s Supreme Court confirmation Thursday, setting up a “nuclear option” vote for later in the day.

Senators voted 55-45 on ending debate over President Trump’s pick. Sixty votes were needed to break the Democratic blockade.

Democratic Sens. Joe Donnelly Joseph (Joe) Simon DonnellyEx-Sen. Joe Donnelly endorses Biden Lobbying world 70 former senators propose bipartisan caucus for incumbents MORE (Ind.), Heidi Heitkamp Mary (Heidi) Kathryn HeitkampCentrists, progressives rally around Harris pick for VP 70 former senators propose bipartisan caucus for incumbents Susan Collins set to play pivotal role in impeachment drama MORE (N.D.), Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinSenate leaders quash talk of rank-and-file COVID-19 deal OVERNIGHT ENERGY: House Democrats tee up vote on climate-focused energy bill next week | EPA reappoints controversial leader to air quality advisory committee | Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' Senate Democrats demand White House fire controversial head of public lands agency MORE (W.Va.) and Michael Bennet Michael Farrand BennetOVERNIGHT ENERGY: House Democrats tee up vote on climate-focused energy bill next week | EPA reappoints controversial leader to air quality advisory committee | Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' Senate Democrats demand White House fire controversial head of public lands agency Next crisis, keep people working and give them raises MORE (Colo.) voted with Republicans to support Gorsuch on proceeding past the initial hurdle. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden asks if public can trust vaccine from Trump ahead of Election Day | Oklahoma health officials raised red flags before Trump rally MORE (R-Ky.) voted no, a procedural move that will allow him to bring up Gorsuch's nomination.

Many senators, who usually walk around the Senate floor or leave after they vote, stayed seated as they cast their votes from their desks — a usually reserved for only the most consequential votes.

Forty-four Democrats and Independents announced ahead of time they would oppose ending debate on Gorsuch's nomination.

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Republicans are planning a vote later Thursday to remove the 60-vote threshold needed to proceed to a final vote on Supreme Court nominees, lowering it to a simple majority.

The historic change appeared inevitable as the parties spent Thursday morning blaming each other for the current stalemate.

McConnell blasted Democrats, arguing they were poised to carry out the “first successful partisan filibuster in American history."

“It would be a radical move, something completely unprecedented in the history of our Senate, and out of all proportion to the eminently qualified judge who is actually before us,” he said.

Republicans have made veiled hints for weeks that they were prepared to go “nuclear" if Democrats blocked Gorsuch. McConnell confirmed during a leadership press conference that he had the votes to change the rules.

Republicans appeared resigned to the tactic, arguing if Democrats won’t support Gorsuch — who received the American Bar Association’s highest rating — they won’t allow any GOP nominee to join the Supreme Court.

“It really is up to them and to how we should proceed. But one way or the other, we will confirm Judge Gorsuch,” said John Cornyn John CornynSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll Republican Senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal MORE (Texas), the No. 2 Senate Republican.

But Democrats stepped up their attacks leading to Thursday’s vote, arguing that instead of changing the Senate’s rules, Republicans should change the nominee.

“It doesn’t have to be this way,” Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerDemocrats scramble on COVID-19 relief amid division, Trump surprise Pelosi, Schumer 'encouraged' by Trump call for bigger coronavirus relief package Schumer, Sanders call for Senate panel to address election security MORE (D-N.Y.) said. “When a nominee doesn’t get enough votes for confirmation, the answer is not to change the rules; it’s to change the nominee.”

A handful of Democratic senators held an 11th-hour press conference with outside groups urging Republicans not to change the rules.

“This is just wrong to pack the court through this stolen seat, and that’s why it’s so important that we still, in the few hours that we have left, hopefully stop this really crime against the Constitution,” said Sen. Jeff Merkley Jeffrey (Jeff) Alan MerkleyThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump, Biden renew push for Latino support Sunday shows - Trump team defends coronavirus response Oregon senator says Trump's blame on 'forest management' for wildfires is 'just a big and devastating lie' MORE (D-Ore.), who held a 15-hour protest from the Senate floor earlier this week.

Democracy Spring held a protest in the Hart Senate Office building earlier Thursday, with some of the protesters being arrested.

Liberal outside groups also released a flurry of last-minute ads targeting Sens. Jeff Flake Jeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeRepublican former Michigan governor says he's voting for Biden Maybe they just don't like cowboys: The president is successful, some just don't like his style Bush endorsing Biden? Don't hold your breath MORE (Ariz.) and Dean Heller Dean Arthur HellerOn The Trail: Democrats plan to hammer Trump on Social Security, Medicare Lobbying World Democrats spend big to put Senate in play MORE (Nev.) — the two most vulnerable Republicans up for reelection in 2018 — as well as a coalition of moderate senators.

The People’s Defense — a coalition of roughly a dozen progressive groups led by Naral Pro-Choice America — released a six-figure digital ad buy targeting Republicans in Arizona, Alaska, Maine, Nevada and South Carolina, warning them that “history is watching.”

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) also targeted Republicans up for reelection in 2018, including Flake, Heller and Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzLoeffler calls for hearing in wake of Netflix's 'Cuties' Health care in the crosshairs with new Trump Supreme Court list 'Parks and Rec' cast members hosting special reunion to raise money for Wisconsin Democrats MORE (R-Texas), with newspaper ads, in addition to Donnelly, Heitkamp and Manchin — who are up for reelection in red states won by Trump.

But the hard-line Supreme Court tactics drew pushback from a handful of moderate senators, who were involved in last-minute talks to try to avoid the nuclear option.

"I know many on the left think this filibuster is a great thing and are celebrating the opposition to Judge Gorsuch, but the reality is, looking forward, I think we are going to be looking at a Senate where the ability … to slow down any future highly partisan Supreme Court nominee will be less and less,” Sen. Christopher Coons Christopher (Chris) Andrew CoonsShakespeare Theatre Company goes virtual for 'Will on the Hill...or Won't They?' The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Pence lauds Harris as 'experienced debater'; Trump, Biden diverge over debate prep Conservative activist Lauren Witzke wins GOP Senate primary in Delaware MORE (D-Del.) told NPR.

Bennet warned from the Senate floor that unless senators avoid the “nuclear option,” Trump could nominate Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsTrump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez call for convention to decide Puerto Rico status White House officials voted by show of hands on 2018 family separations: report MORE or Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt to the Supreme Court in the future.

“Partisanship should give way to patriotism,” said Bennet, the only senator who hasn’t announced how he’ll vote on confirmation.

"If we go down this road, we will undermine the minority's ability to check this administration and all those who follow."