"Democrats opposed Gorsuch in part because Senate Republicans blocked former President Barack Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland, last year."
Fudge
First, how would the reporter know why someone did something?  At best s/he would know what they said.
Second, not all Democrats opposed Gorsuch.
A better report might have been
"A solid majority of the Democrats opposed Gorsuch.  Some of them may have done this because Merick Garland was opposed by Senate Republicans last year.