Sessions has the advantage of being a Senator, which means that he will benefit from the Senate tending to confirm its own members for higher posts. I can’t think of a Senator from either side who hasn’t been conformed.
Senator John Tower was rejected by Senate when nominated for Secretary of Defense in 1989.
But it is rare, that is the only case I can recall. The smear campaign was very strong there. I don’t know if his “problems” were as strong as the Democrats painted but they went all-out against him.
[Wiki]: “In 1989, Tower was President George H. W. Bush’s choice to become Secretary of Defense. But in a stunning move — particularly given that Tower was himself a former Senate colleague — the United States Senate rejected his nomination. The largest factors were concern about possible conflicts of interest and Tower’s personal life, in particular allegations of alcohol abuse and womanizing[13][14] The Senate vote was 47–53,[15] and it marked the first time that the Senate had rejected a Cabinet nominee of a newly elected president.”
John Tower.