President Trump announced Thursday that Pam Bondi would no longer serve as attorney general. Todd Blanche has been appointed interim attorney general. But as the president mulls over who will be Bondi’s permanent replacement, there are several standout candidates who have the willingness to enforce the law as well as the tenacity to take on the Democrats’ lawfare machine.
Several of those potential candidates have also been targeted for political persecution, and they understand how powerful the current leftist legal regime is and why it needs to be cleaned up.
Russ Vought
Director of OMB Russ Vought has shown he has the much-needed muscle to fight back against the left without apology. Vought slashed funding for left-wing pet projects like critical race theory indoctrination and publicly told Congress the 1974 Impoundment Control Act is unconstitutional, pointing out it has been used to enable waste, fraud and abuse. Such institutional knowledge is useful in purging the DOJ of waste and abuse in order to focus on the mission. Vought has shown he understands that restoring rule of law isn’t merely about competence but also a willingness to confront bureaucratic waste that has enabled such abuse.
Brendan Carr
Carr would make a formidable attorney general because he’s already shown he will enforce regulatory law against powerful institutions instead of allowing them to run rampant. As FCC chairman, Carr called out ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel for violating FCC rules by knowingly broadcasting a false claim about Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Carr’s move forced ABC to reconsider the program and temporarily pull it off air. Carr’s willingness to confront media bias and hold people accountable for law breaking qualifies him to help steer the ship at the DOJ. Carr has shown that enforcing rules in a politicized environment requires backbone.
Theo Wold
Wold spent his career inside the DOJ and state attorney general offices fighting to dismantle the unelected fourth branch of government that has usurped the authority of Congress, the president, and the states. While solicitor general of Idaho, Wold co-signed an amicus brief defending the Second Amendment in the face of California’s restrictive gun control laws. He also supported Idaho’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act to keep men out of women’s sports. Such history shows Wold is willing to use power to defend states rights and reality. Wold’s legal experience and willingness to challenge federal overreach shows he has the exact clarity needed about the current fight conservatives face.
Ron DeSantis
DeSantis has a proven record of getting things done and using his authority to defend the rule of law. As Florida governor, he signed legislation curbing Big Tech censorship. DeSantis was quick to deploy Florida law enforcement to Texas and Arizona to aid them in their defense of the nation’s borders. He also tapped the state’s attorney general’s office to independently oversee the investigation into the second assassination attempt against Trump. DeSantis has shown not only a willingness to act, but a willingness to use all tools at his disposal.
Eric Schmitt
Schmitt has been an outspoken defender of America’s borders and sovereignty. As the attorney general of Missouri, Schmitt led the Missouri v. Biden lawsuit that blocked the Biden administration from colluding with Big Tech to silence free speech on Covid, elections, and Hunter Biden’s laptop. As a current senator, Schmitt has released documents exposing the H-1B visa scam, understanding the stakes of the moment. Schmitt has demonstrated a commitment to the Constitution and firsthand experience confronting government overreach that has eroded our founding principles.
Austin Knudsen
As Montana’s attorney general, Knudsen was slapped with a 41-count ethics complaint after he represented the state legislature in a battle over judicial reform legislation, as reported in these pages by Mark Pulliam. Montana’s Supreme Court then proposed suspending Knudsen’s law license for 90 days. But the debacle proves Knudsen isn’t scared to fight left-wing activists and judicial overreach even when they threaten his livelihood. Having personally faced retaliation, Knudsen brings a clear understanding of how lawfare works, which will be needed to stop it.
Cleta Mitchell
Mitchell has devoted her career to exposing election insecurity and demanding accountability from those who abuse the electoral process. As senior legal fellow at the Conservative Partnership Institute, Mitchell has advocated for relief for those persecuted by Biden’s weaponized DOJ and has helped expose severe irregularities in the 2020 Georgia election that demands answers.
Brianna Lyman is an elections correspondent at The Federalist. Brianna graduated from Fordham University with a degree in International Political Economy. Her work has been featured on Newsmax, Fox News, Fox Business and RealClearPolitics. Follow Brianna on X: @briannalyman2
