Judge Brett Kavanaugh passed a key vote. The Senate voted 51 to 49 to advance Kavanaugh nomination to final vote.
Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, crossed the aisle, as did Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski.
With a 51-49 majority, Republicans can't afford more than one defection if all Democrats were to vote together. In the event of a deadlock Saturday, VP Mike Pence would be the tiebreaker.