“The women of this country identify with Dr. Ford and will not forget what is happening here,” said Neera Tanden, the president of the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank. “They are not angry, they are furious, and I expect the largest women’s turnout in a midterm — ever.”

Democrats likened the turn of events to the 1991 Clarence Thomas hearings, which ended with his confirmation to the Supreme Court, but also inspired a surge of elected women and shined a national spotlight on sexual harassment.

“The fallout out of this, regardless of whether he’s confirmed, will last for a decade,” said Jess McIntosh, a Democratic strategist and executive editor of Shareblue Media. “It’s the worst possible thing that can happen for women. It looks like putting your high school rapist in charge of abortion.”

Amanda Litman, co-founder of Run for Something, which grooms young Democratic candidates for state office, said she’d seen a spike in people reaching out to volunteer in races and even prepare to run for office in the next election cycle in 2020.