Republicans can confirm a Supreme Court justice if Democrats take the Senate, but at what cost?

Democrats will attempt to slow down the confirmation process, but they face an uphill battle with few options. Grant Faint/Getty Images

Democrats are gaining momentum in their bid to retake the Senate in November. This has led Republicans to prepare for the possibility that a conservative Supreme Court justice might announce their retirement before the new Congress is sworn in on Jan. 3, 2027.

This would give President Donald Trump his fourth Supreme Court nomination, helping to ensure conservative dominance on the court for decades.