Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) declared on Wednesday, August 6, 2026, that he will not vote to confirm Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as the official Attorney General, marking a departure from his prior pattern of supporting President Donald Trump's Department of Justice and Cabinet nominees.

During an appearance on comedian Jon Stewart's podcast, Fetterman was questioned about Democrats' failure to use the Senate filibuster to block Trump's Cabinet picks. He acknowledged that while he has supported about half of Trump's nominees, there were many he did not vote for, including Blanche.

Fetterman stated, "And if you're going to bring up Blanche, I'm not going to vote for him as well. There are some that I would vote for, and then there are many that I haven't because I just don't believe that's the right person for the job overall. I really try to call balls and strikes."

He further criticized Blanche by saying, "Mr. Blanche has taken several actions that have further eroded the department’s independence, and that is the basis for my vote to oppose his confirmation."

The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Blanche's nomination to the full Senate despite opposition from some members, including Senator Susan Collins. Progressive Democrats, such as Senator Cory Booker, also challenged Blanche's record during the confirmation hearing held on July 15, 2026.

Fetterman's opposition highlights a rare break from his generally supportive stance toward Trump's nominees, as a Fox News Digital review noted he had voted "yea" on about half of them.

Sources

Image Caption

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on July 15, 2026, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. (Anadolu via Getty Images)