The Senate on Thursady approved President Trump's first lower-court pick amid a looming battle over judicial nominations.

Senators voted 52-44 to confirm Amul Thapar to be a judge on the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Democrats are widely opposed to Thapar's nomination, arguing he's previously supported loosening campaign finance rules.

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"The issue of concentrated money in our political system is one that doesn't split down party lines. Americans of all politics views cringe at the massive amounts of secret money that slither through our political process," said Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenWarren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Don't expect a government check anytime soon No new taxes for the ultra rich — fix bad tax policy instead MORE (D-Mass.).

In a 2016 decision, Winter v. Wolnitzek, Thapar struck down a prohibition on judges making political contributions.

But Democrats don't have the ability to block Thapar on their own.

Judicial nominees only need a simple majority to be approved. Republicans have 52 seats, and Thapar has firm support from Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled McConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security Warren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt MORE (R-Ky.).

“He has a reputation as a qualified judge with an impressive legal mind. He will fairly apply the law to all who enter his courtroom," McConnell said ahead of the vote.

Thapar's confirmation comes as Republicans are debating curbing Democrats’ ability to block lower-court nominees they disagree with.

The change to the “blue-slip rule” would involve preventing individual senators from blocking nominees to circuit courts that have jurisdiction over several states.

The "blue slip" process isn't a formal rule, instead relying on the Judiciary Committee chairman to block nominees if their home-state senators don't support them.

Sen. Chuck Grassley Charles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleySenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Senators offer disaster tax relief bill Trump spikes political football with return of Big Ten season MORE (R-Iowa), the chairman of the Judiciary Committeee, has said there are exceptions to the rule.

“It’s going to continue to be around, but there are exceptions and don’t forget there’s different standards,” he told The Hill last week.

But Sen. Dianne Feinstein Dianne Emiel FeinsteinSenators offer disaster tax relief bill Democrats back away from quick reversal of Trump tax cuts Congress must save the Postal Service from collapse — our economy depends on it MORE (D-Calif.) fired back this week with a memo on "setting the record straight."

"In fact, no Obama administration district or circuit court nominee received a Judiciary Committee hearing unless both home-state senators approved of the nominee by returning their blue slips," she wrote in the memo to reporters.