Todd Blanche won Senate confirmation as Attorney General in a narrow 50-49 vote after a bruising and closely watched confirmation battle that split GOP senators and hinged on a single deciding Republican vote.

The Senate confirmed Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche by a 50-49 margin on Saturday morning, a razor-thin result that underscored deep divisions over his nomination. Every Senate Democrat opposed Blanche, joined by two Republicans who broke from the majority. The tally left Republicans with a win but underscored how fragile consensus can be on high-profile Justice Department picks.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine voted against the nomination, drawing attention from both sides of the aisle. Murkowski explained her concerns about the role’s responsibilities and the temperament needed to hold it. “The country needs an Attorney General who will check the worst impulses of this administration,” Murkowski wrote. “I hope Mr. Blanche is able to achieve that, if confirmed, but I simply do not have confidence that will be the case.”

Blanche has served as acting attorney general since the spring, stepping into the post following Pam Bondi’s departure and the interim period that followed. His resume includes time as President Donald Trump’s private attorney, a fact that energized critics and supporters alike during confirmation hearings. That history made Senators more likely to probe his past client work and how he would separate previous loyalties from official duties.

The committee and floor fights got testy at times, particularly over terms tied to a settlement with the IRS that Blanche addressed during negotiations. Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis held up committee approval until they got clarifications on elements of the settlement, including the removal of a proposed anti-weaponization fund. Those behind-the-scenes negotiations mattered enough to delay committee action and shape the final terms Blanche agreed to in writing.

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Blanche sought to calm worried senators with direct outreach ahead of the final vote, emphasizing transparency and a willingness to engage with lawmakers. “My team and I have met with committee members and Senators over the past several weeks and addressed any concerns or outstanding questions,” Blanche posted on Sunday. “We have enjoyed good faith discussions, and as a result issue the following order and update with regard to the May IRS settlement. The Department always welcomes and appreciates productive engagement with all members of Congress.”

With Senate leader Mitch McConnell still absent following hospitalization and rehab, the deciding Republican vote came from Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. His yes pushed Blanche over the finish line and highlighted how fragile Senate arithmetic can be when party leaders are out of action. Cassidy framed his decision as pragmatic, focused on who would run the Justice Department effectively rather than on ideological purity.

Cassidy spoke plainly on the floor about the criticism he expected for his vote and why he thought Blanche was the safer choice for running the department. “I will vote for Mr. Blanche. I’ll be criticized for this vote. What’s new?” he said, acknowledging the political fallout. He followed with a more detailed defense, arguing the choice was about competence and stability in a sensitive moment for the department: “Mr. Blanche is not perfect, and he will tell you this. But the choice is not between perfection and Mr. Blanche. It is between Mr. Blanche and another acting attorney general who may not run the department effectively under President Trump, and who indeed may not be as good as Mr. Blanche,”

The confirmation leaves Blanche as the 88th Attorney General to lead the Justice Department, now with a mandate but also with clear scrutiny from both critics and skeptics inside his own party. His path to confirmation illustrated how internal GOP divisions can complicate confirmations, forcing nominees to negotiate and prod senators to weigh practicality over politics. That dynamic will shape how Blanche approaches controversial investigations and policy choices now that he holds the office.

Blanche marked the moment on social media with a short statement expressing gratitude to the president and reaffirming his commitment to lead the department. “I am deeply honored by the trust and confidence President Trump has placed in me to lead the Department of Justice as our great nation’s 88th Attorney General,” said Blanche in a post on Twitter