"This evening, Senator McConnell filed cloture on Executive Calendar #33, Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States," the release stated on Tuesday.
On Monday, Senate Democrats secured enough votes to try to block the confirmation of Gorsuch, despite Republicans's goal to approve the candidate anyway.
US Senator John McCain said on Tuesday that the majority Republicans would likely invoke the so-called "nuclear option" and change the rules in order to confirm Gorsuch.
The nuclear option entails changing the current 60 votes threshold necessary for a nominee to be confirmed to a simple majority of 51 votes. Republicans currently have 52 seats in the 100 seat Senate.
The full Senate is scheduled to hold a vote on Gorsuch's confirmation on Friday.
