WASHINGTON, D.C. — Republican Senator Rand Paul is known for making good use of the filibuster, a political procedure that allows Senators to delay or block legislation. 

After suffering a series of political defeats Senate Democrats, who also use the filibuster, are eyeing getting rid of it if they recapture the chamber. 

"Just thinking about how Senator Paul has used Senate rules to his advantage even in the majority, members of a Democratic majority might also have second thoughts about doing away with this rule that really empowers small groups and individual Senators to try to get their way in the Senate," said Sarah Binder, a political science professor at George Washington University.

The Senate has already done away with the filibuster for considering judicial and executive branch nominations. Binder says if Democrats are successful in winning the White House and the Senate, she anticipates Republicans may limit their use of the filibuster in an effort not to further enflame Democrats and push them to nullify the procedure.

"It’s convenient to Senate majorities when the minority filibusters one of their priorities, it’s somewhat convenient for the majority to blame the minority but once you do away with the filibuster, you can really hold the majority accountable. If there is no filibuster allowed, why couldn’t you pass global warming, the Green New Deal, why couldn’t you pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act? And so Democrats will have to think carefully and see whether they really have 50 votes if they win control to do away with the filibuster," said Binder.

Democrats also eyeing adding justices to the Supreme Court won't be able to do so without first eliminating the filibuster. These two hotly debated issues go hand in hand. Even if they do win back the Senate, they could face opposition from moderate Democrats. Although Binder says they could all be pushed to the edge after suffering enough losses with a 6-3 conservative majority on the high court.

"In order to add justices to the court or to curb the court by taking away some of its jurisdiction, Republicans would oppose all those measures and so Democrats would be forced to ban the filibuster if they want to curb the court," said Binder.

"One thing Democrats could have more luck with is actually expanding the lower courts, which might not attract as much partisan Republican opposition. It’s been about 30 years since they last added seats to the district courts and the appellate courts and their caseloads are overwhelming. Add seats there and we know the Democrats in the majority would be able to confirm scores of nominees to the enlarged bench," Binder added.