Todd Blanche’s Attorney General Bid Faces Senate Math Crisis

The defection of Collins leaves Blanche with almost zero room for error, as he can afford only one additional Republican dissent. This vulnerability is compounded by the absence of Senator Mitch McConnell, who remains out indefinitely. While Blanche successfully courted holdouts John Cornyn and Thom Tillis by providing written assurances that a controversial $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund would be dismantled, skepticism persists. Many lawmakers remain wary of the tax-immunity deal tied to Donald Trump’s $10 billion IRS lawsuit, questioning whether the president should benefit from such arrangements.

Senate Republican Leader John Thune is pushing for a floor vote within days, despite the current lack of a guaranteed majority. Thune described the confirmation effort as a work in progress, noting that his team is actively engaging the remaining undecided senators. With Bill Cassidy and Lisa Murkowski withholding their intentions, the administration’s ability to clear the nomination before the recess remains firmly in doubt.