Several Democrats opposed to the filibuster, including Sens. Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio) and Ben Cardin (D., Md.), are leaving the chamber next year, due to electoral defeat and retirement, respectively.

Despite the dithering over the filibuster by many Democrats, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) signaled that the filibuster is safe in a Republican-controlled Senate. “The filibuster will stand,” he said, adding that Senate Republicans will “control the guardrails” of institutional changes that Democrats have spent years pushing for.