Story perspectives

Republican Senators Murkowski, Collins to Vote Against Blanche AG Nomination

8/7/2026

Center

Murkowski Opposes

On Friday, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced she will vote against Todd Blanche’s nomination for U.S. attorney general.
Judiciary Committee advanced the nomination 12-10 after Blanche pledged to rescind $1.8 billion fund, and Republicans can lose only one more senator because McConnell is absent.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) also announced she will vote against Blanche’s nomination.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) has not disclosed his vote, making his decision pivotal.

Left

Murkowski Blocks Blanche

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced on Friday she will vote against Todd Blanche’s nomination for U.S. attorney general.
The Justice Department's politicization, the Trump Organization tax-information settlement, and mishandled Epstein file releases, Murkowski said, reveal systemic failures a Blanche confirmation would deepen.
Murkowski warned confirming Blanche could revive the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund aiding Trump allies.
Blanche’s Alaska visit yielded a $180 million Anchorage settlement.

Blindspot

Murkowski cited a settlement with the Trump Organization over an IRS tax-information leak and highlighted that Blanche’s Alaska visit yielded a $180 million settlement with Anchorage.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Left-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Center-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

The 1994 Republican Revolution, driven by Newt Gingrich’s Contract with America, gave Republicans a 54-seat House swing and eight Senate pickups—the first congressional majority since 1952. That realignment shifted Southern conservatives into the GOP and sparked intra-party dissent. Today, Senators Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and possibly Bill Cassidy echo that dissent by opposing Todd Blanche’s attorney-general nomination.

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Murkowski Opposes

On Friday, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced she will vote against Todd Blanche’s nomination for U.S. attorney general.
Judiciary Committee advanced the nomination 12-10 after Blanche pledged to rescind $1.8 billion fund, and Republicans can lose only one more senator because McConnell is absent.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) also announced she will vote against Blanche’s nomination.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) has not disclosed his vote, making his decision pivotal.

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