Neil Gorsuch’s confirmation as a Supreme Court justice appeared all but certain after his smooth and appealing testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. He came across as “almost too good,” one of his backers said. He was the beneficiary of a well-financed effort by outside groups. And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and President Trump were strongly committed to his confirmation.

Yet in the days before floor debate began, his nomination was in jeopardy. Three Republican senators wouldn’t commit to vote for the “nuclear option” to prevent a Democratic filibuster from blocking Gorsuch’s confirmation.