Murkowski emerges as key Republican vote in Todd Blanche confirmation after Graham’s death

By SUZANNE DOWNING

July 13, 2026 – The sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has reshaped the political landscape surrounding Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination to become the nation’s permanent attorney general. That places renewed attention on Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose vote could now carry even greater weight.

Graham, a longtime member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and one of Blanche’s strongest Republican supporters, died Saturday at age 71 following what his office described as a brief and sudden illness. It’s now been revealed that his death came after a tear in the inner wall of the main artery that carried blood from his heart. His passing leaves Republicans with one less reliable vote as Blanche prepares to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee this week. It’s even trickier because Sen. Mitch McConnell remains hospitalized, and that leaves the reliable Republican votes hanging by a thread.

For Alaska, the timing is particularly notable because Blanche spent a few days in the state last week meeting with federal prosecutors, law enforcement officials, and Gov. Mike Dunleavy before returning to Washington for his confirmation hearings.

During his Alaska visit, Blanche said he wanted to better understand the state’s unique law enforcement challenges, emphasizing Alaska’s size, remote communities, and the limited federal resources available to serve them. He also acknowledged awareness of the high-profile “Decoy Dan” ballot controversy but declined to comment on the Justice Department’s ongoing role, neither confirming or denying that there is an investigation.

Blanche’s visit included a joint announcement with Gov. Dunleavy regarding the federal government’s $180 million settlement over the Port of Alaska project, underscoring the administration’s focus on Alaska during Blanche’s early tenure as acting attorney general.

Murkowski has not announced how she intends to vote on Blanche’s nomination.

Instead, she has publicly raised questions about the administration’s now-abandoned $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” seeking assurances that the fund will not be revived. Blanche has reportedly told Republican senators in private meetings that he is willing to formally eliminate the proposal, an issue Murkowski has identified as one of her principal concerns.

Beyond the funding issue, Blanche’s nomination has attracted scrutiny from Trump-haters over his previous role as President Donald Trump’s personal defense attorney, his handling of Justice Department matters involving the president, and questions surrounding the department’s review of Jeffrey Epstein-related records. Democratic senators have signaled they intend to press those issues during this week’s hearings, while several liberal advocacy groups are urging Murkowski and other moderate Republicans to oppose the nomination.

Before Graham’s death, Republicans were already watching Murkowski, along with a handful of other GOP senators, as potential swing votes on the nomination. Graham’s absence now removes one dependable Republican supporter from the confirmation process, increasing the importance of every remaining Republican vote.

Murkowski paid tribute to Graham on Sunday, writing that they entered the Senate together more than two decades ago and calling him “my friend and a true leader for our country,” adding that “it is hard to convey the loss that I feel knowing that we will no longer have his leadership in the Senate.”

Blanche’s confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee are scheduled for July 15 and 16.

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