This week in politics featured two dominant storylines: continued scrutiny of Todd Blanche's role at the Justice Department, and a reshaped Democratic Senate primary field in Michigan with voters heading to the polls Tuesday.
Blanche was confirmed as deputy attorney general by the Senate in May 2025 following a nomination process that divided lawmakers along party lines over questions of prosecutorial independence. In Michigan, Sen. Gary Peters' decision not to seek another term set off a scramble among Democrats to succeed him in one of the cycle's most closely watched open-seat races.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans have defended Blanche as a seasoned prosecutor whose record — including service as chief of criminal operations at the Southern District of New York U.S. Attorney's Office — demonstrates fitness for the role. Supporters argue that his experience representing Trump in court is irrelevant to his duties and that attacks on him are politically motivated.
GOP senators have said Democratic concerns about independence are unfounded, noting that Blanche has a professional obligation under DOJ regulations to separate personal relationships from official decisions. Republicans also point to the confirmation vote as evidence of broad support for his leadership approach at the department.
What the Left Is Saying
Democrats have argued that Blanche's prior work as President Trump's defense attorney creates an unavoidable conflict for a senior Justice Department official overseeing federal prosecutions. During Senate Judiciary Committee hearings, Democrats pressed him on whether he could maintain independence from White House political operations, and several said his answers were insufficient.
Progressive advocacy groups have called for expanded oversight of the department under Blanche, pointing to personnel changes at DOJ as evidence that career officials are being pushed out in favor of politically aligned appointees. Some Democratic lawmakers have introduced legislation requiring additional reporting from the deputy attorney general's office on politically sensitive cases.
What the Numbers Show
The Senate confirmed Blanche on a largely party-line vote in May 2025, with all Democrats opposed and a small number of Republican defections — a split that highlighted the partisan divide over Trump's Justice Department appointments. In Michigan, Tuesday's primary features a competitive field led by state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and Rep. Haley Stevens.
Peters has held the seat since 2015 after winning election to succeed retiring Sen. Carl Levin. Fundraising reports through mid-2026 show both leading candidates with multimillion-dollar war chests, while outside groups have poured additional millions into television advertising across Detroit media markets.
The Bottom Line
Michigan's primary outcome will set the stage for a general election that both parties view as pivotal to control of the Senate. Meanwhile, Blanche's tenure at DOJ remains a flashpoint in oversight hearings and campaign messaging, with Democrats framing it as central to their arguments about institutional independence.