- The Senate confirmed Blanche 50-49 in a vote that occurred Saturday
- Republicans Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joined Democrats and independents in opposition
- Blanche had served as acting attorney general since April
The Senate has confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general, closing out a nomination that had stalled for weeks over Republican objections. The chamber voted 50-49 on Saturday, according to the Senate roll call.
Every Republican present voted to confirm, except Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. They joined all 45 Democrats and both independents in opposition. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky did not vote.
Blanche said in a statement posted on social media after the vote that he is the 88th attorney general and thanked the Senate for staying late to finish the process.
Who Is Todd Blanche?
He has run the Justice Department in an acting capacity since April, when President Donald Trump removed Pam Bondi from the post, The Epoch Times reported. Before that, he served as deputy attorney general, confirmed by the Senate in March 2025.
Blanche represented Trump as a personal attorney beginning in 2023, The Guardian reported. He earlier worked as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York.
What Held Up Todd Blanche’s Confirmation?
The nomination needed Judiciary Committee approval first, and two Republicans on that panel initially withheld it. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas and Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina both objected to a Justice Department fund set up to compensate people who said they were prosecuted for political reasons. Both moved to support after Blanche agreed to rescind the order creating it.
Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., died July 11, cutting the Republican advantage on the panel to a single vote until Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham to the South Carolina seat. She joined the committee and voted with her Republican colleagues to advance the nomination Aug. 4.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., supplied the last vote needed on the floor, announcing his support Aug. 7.
