Schumer Says Democrats Will Block a "Rightwinger" on the Supreme Court
Chuck Schumer, who is set to become Senate majority leader after the 2026 midterm elections, has said Democrats will block Donald Trump from putting a "rightwinger" on the US Supreme Court. In an interview with the Associated Press, Schumer said, "The bottom line is we're not going to allow a rightwinger on the court."
Schumer also said Democrats would not confirm "any crappy nominees" to the Supreme Court, the lower federal courts or Trump's cabinet. In the US system, the Senate must approve, or confirm, nominees before they can take their posts.
The Supreme Court has nine justices, and four of them are in their 70s. The two oldest are Clarence Thomas, 78, and Samuel Alito, 76. Alito told Fox News that he plans to stay on the court for the rest of the current term. The Guardian reported that Thomas and Alito are the oldest members of the court.
Trump appointed three justices during his first term: Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. Their confirmations gave the court a 6-3 conservative majority. Trump has said he interviewed four prospective Supreme Court justices and plans to speak with several more.
The midterm results are also shaping the Senate fight. As of November 6, 2026, Democrats have secured 54 Senate seats for the next Congress, according to The Guardian, with races in Mississippi and Alaska not yet called. In the House, Democrats will hold at least 253 seats after flipping more than 40 seats.
