That is BIGLY important.

On edit: Also confirms cabinet positions and federal court vacancies throughout the nation.

I'm not quite sure of how the filibuster rules work, but can you get anything through, or stop anything, with 59 senators that you can't with 41?

Remember that if and when she takes office Clinton will be a lame duck president with only 4 more years of her term to run before the next election...

there is much more likelihood of the SC nominees being confirmed, even if we don't have over 60. Why? The nuclear option. Reid and the Dem Senate changed the rules for confirming judicial appointees, except the SC, to a simple majority vote. What's to stop them from doing the same for SC nominees if the Repubs constantly obstruct or refuse to confirm? The leverage will be there if we hold the Senate.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_judicial_appointment_controversies

As a response to the continuing blocking of several of President Obama's nominees, Sen. Harry Reid on November 21, 2013 invoked the so-called Nuclear option and changed the Senate rules, meaning a simple majority vote will suffice for all nominees except for the Supreme Court.



Also, there are all the lower tier judicial vacancies that would be appointed by Democrat and confirmed with a simple Democratic majority.

At the district and circuit levels. Sixteen years of Democratic presidents appointing federal judges throughout the system can go a long way toward undoing some of the damage inflicted on our beloved United States by Republican misgovernance.

the Repubs have been trying to pack the courts with ultra-conservative judges for years, and have been preventing appointments all over the Fed government.

First order of business, eliminate the filibuster for ALL appointments and require hearings and up or down vote within a time limit. That's simple Senate rules, which has nothing to do with the Constitution. Rules are voted on at the beginning of the session and require simple majority vote.

Supreme court and the federal bench. Way more important than the house.

SUPREME COURT