Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has said she will oppose Todd Blanche’s nomination to become US attorney general, further weakening his prospects of Senate confirmation. Her decision matters because Blanche, who is serving as acting attorney general, appears to have little remaining room for further Republican defections.

The article describes Murkowski’s announcement as a setback after lobbying efforts in Alaska, although it does not provide her detailed reasoning in the supplied text. It also notes that other Republican senators, including John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, had remained non-committal, leaving the confirmation process uncertain.