Senate Democrats, including Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), have stated they would oppose confirming a Supreme Court nominee from a potential second Donald Trump term, invoking Mitch McConnell's 2016 refusal to consider Merrick Garland after Antonin Scalia's death. This stance emerges amid unverified speculation about Justice Samuel Alito's retirement, with the Court currently holding a 6-3 conservative majority. Republicans' 2016 actions enabled Neil Gorsuch's 2017 confirmation.