Washington ? A Senate committee endorsed Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor on Tuesday in a vote that splintered nearly along party lines, signaling that Republicans will not hesitate to oppose the first Hispanic nominee to the nation’s highest court when the full Senate decides whether to confirm her next week.

Only one Republican, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, joined the Senate Judiciary Committee’s dozen Democrats in supporting Sotomayor. The six GOP senators who stood against her included two from states with heavy Hispanic populations and two veteran senators who had never before voted against any Supreme Court nominee.

Republicans and Democrats alike said that, in a Senate with a heavy Democratic majority that is united solidly behind her, Sotomayor’s confirmation is virtually assured.