Senate Republicans Plan Fast Supreme Court Fill if 1 Seat Opens in 2026

3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Oct 7

Senate Republicans say they would move quickly to confirm a Supreme Court nominee if a vacancy opens this year, with Majority Leader John Thune saying the chamber would "proceed quickly."
A 2026 opening is considered unlikely, but Republicans are preparing because losing the Senate in the midterms could let Democrats block President Donald Trump's judicial picks in his final years.
Clarence Thomas, 78, and Samuel Alito, 76, are the court's two oldest justices and both are Republican appointees, making any unexpected vacancy especially consequential.
The contingency planning underscores how central remaking the federal judiciary remains to Republicans, who view Trump's court and lower-court appointments as a core part of his legacy.