Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination for the official position could face obstacles. Only two GOP defections are possible, and they’re currently being considered as potential dissenters.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) are the two unpredictable votes, and prospects look uncertain. Murkowski has not commented, while Cassidy remains undecided. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and John Cornyn (R-TX) initially opposed the nomination but were persuaded after intense negotiations over that $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) will vote against confirmation. McConnell is still away for health reasons.
Both Sens. Murkowski and Cassidy mum on their thinking on Todd Blanche. They hold the key to his confirmation.
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) August 5, 2026
Murkowski: pic.twitter.com/S2zHLOtTiN
Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) Sirius XM’s Steve Scully he is undecided on Todd Blanche’s nomination for US Attorney General
— Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 (@PollTracker2024) August 5, 2026
Cassidy: “I am very concerned about so-called lawfare—people being prosecuted not for a valid reason beyond somebody in high office being angry at them.”… pic.twitter.com/22bvNjJttj
Cornyn and Tillis’ support allowed Blanche’s nomination to survive the committee.
The usual suspects continue to induce heartburn for either purely selfish or idiotic reasons.
Sens. Cassidy and Murkowski just left a meeting with Todd Blanche at the Capitol — as they weigh whether or not to confirm him to be permanent AG.
— Mychael Schnell (@mychaelschnell) August 5, 2026
They wouldn't say how they're voting after the meeting. They both called it a "good conversation."
If both are a no, Blanche fails.
Confirm him. Ridiculous not to at this point. https://t.co/aj1AUEgXV0
— Josh Holmes (@HolmesJosh) August 6, 2026