August 8, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination for the position. In response, All Voting is Local Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Hannah Fried issued the following statement:
“Today, we’re witnessing yet another election denier being promoted in an administration that has continued to reward those who have a history of attempting to undermine the will of the people. The Trump administration has continued to weaponize the Department of Justice in its crusade against free and democratic elections, and Todd Blanche has happily played along. He has supported anti-voter conspiracy theories, claiming there’s a “ton of evidence” that the 2020 election was stolen, and served as Deputy Attorney General at the time of the FBI seizures in Georgia – actions he has defended. Less than 90 days before the midterms, Blanche’s confirmation threatens our freedom to vote.
“Americans have known threats to our freedom to vote before, and have defeated them time and again. Worth noting is that former Attorney General Bondi was unsuccessful in this administration’s quest to undermine our elections. Across the country, the state and local officials who run our elections have made clear that they will be our freedom to vote’s staunchest defenders, and as a result, voters continue to be protected, and our processes remain safeguarded. From the state and local officials who have pushed back against demands for our private voter data, to state lawmakers opposing efforts by the federal government to take over elections, and to voters still showing up to cast their ballots despite every hurdle, we have proven that the will of the people will prevail – regardless of who heads the U.S. Department of Justice.”
Background
Before his current stint at the DOJ, Blanche represented President Trump, including his 2020 election interference case in Washington.
In March 2025, Blanche was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Deputy Attorney General; in April 2026, he was elevated to acting Attorney General after former AG Pamela Bondi was dismissed. Under his leadership in either position:
- In July of this year, the DOJ sent letters to every state and the District of Columbia, threatening criminal prosecution of top election officials if ballots cast by noncitizens were counted in upcoming elections.
- The DOJ has continued to demand, using lies about our elections, private and sensitive voter data from the states, bringing over 30 lawsuits against states that refuse to compromise their voters’ information.
- The DOJ served a grand jury subpoena seeking the names and personal contact information of Fulton County election employees and volunteer poll workers, an action later blocked by a U.S. district judge.
- Regarding President Trump’s sweeping pardons to Jan. 6 rioters who were charged with crimes in their attempt to violently disrupt Congress from certifying the 2020 election, he said he “doesn’t question [his] authority or his decision.”
During his confirmation hearing for AG, he also claimed he would “follow the law” when it comes to sending armed federal agents to voting sites and did not pledge not to deploy them; he has previously endorsed sending ICE agents to voting sites. During the same hearing, he voiced his support for the show-your-papers SAVE Act, also known as the Voter Elimination Act, which would erect barriers preventing eligible voters from casting their ballots.