Senate Judiciary Committee expected to delay vote on Todd Blanche attorney general nomination after two Republican holdouts

The Senate Judiciary Committee was expected to postpone a scheduled Thursday vote on Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general, as two Republicans on the panel indicated they are not yet ready to back the nominee, according to The Washington Times.

Under Senate practice, nominations for attorney general move through committee review before any full-Senate consideration, with committee votes often determining whether a nomination advances to the floor. A delay on the Judiciary Committee side can extend the timeline for the next stage of the confirmation process.

The reported expectation of postponement comes amid internal committee dynamics, with the two Republican holdouts citing they were not prepared to support the nomination as of the planned vote date, the outlet reported. The decision would shift timing for when the committee can consider whether to advance Blanche to the Senate for potential confirmation.

A committee delay can also affect how quickly the Senate moves to address issues that typically arise in confirmation debates, including the nominee’s legal record, qualifications, and anticipated approach to enforcement and oversight responsibilities that fall within the Justice Department’s jurisdiction.

If the committee vote is rescheduled, the nomination would remain under committee consideration rather than moving to a full floor vote. That would keep any related questions about Department leadership and implementation tied to the Judiciary Committee’s next action.

The Washington Times report described the postponement as likely, based on the position of the holdout senators. As of publication, no official committee schedule update was reflected in the provided materials, and confirmation would depend on the committee’s formal next steps and any subsequent notice of when a vote is set.

Observers will look for whether the Judiciary Committee issues a revised calendar and whether the reported holdouts change their positions ahead of a new vote date, which would determine whether the nomination advances to the full Senate for further consideration.