Susan Collins Says She Will Vote Against Todd Blanche, Leaving His Attorney General Confirmation One Vote Short

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, announced on the evening of Aug. 4, 2026 that she will vote against confirming acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to lead the Justice Department permanently, hours after the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced his nomination that morning. Collins cited Blanche's approval of the settlement that created the $1.8 billion Justice Department fund, the immunity arrangement that would have shielded President Trump from future IRS audit scrutiny, his reported plan to roll back abortion access, and the department's attempt to indict Sens. Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin over what she called "their ill-advised, but constitutionally protected, videos." Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, announced support the same day, leaving Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Bill Cassidy as the remaining undecided Republicans.

Blanche cleared committee only after striking a weekend deal with Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis to rescind the anti-weaponization fund and narrow the IRS release of claims. That a nominee needed to unwind two of his own department's actions to reach the floor is itself a measure of how contested the post has become.

No floor vote has been scheduled. With Sen. Mitch McConnell absent, Republicans can lose no more than two votes.