JUNEAU, Alaska — During the early phase of President Donald Trump’s second tenure, Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska has taken a bold stance against him, breaking ranks at least three notable times. This defiance is striking, particularly for a Republican senator who has previously experienced Trump’s disfavor but remains steadfast in her principles rather than conforming to partisan pressures.
Murkowski, known for her moderate views, has a consistent history of standing up to her party as well as to Trump when she believes it necessary. Recently, she became the first Republican senator to openly criticize Trump’s nomination of Pete Hegseth for the position of Secretary of Defense, which proceeded this week. In addition, Murkowski expressed her strong disapproval regarding Trump’s previously abandoned renaming of North America’s tallest peak from Denali back to Mount McKinley. Furthermore, she condemned Trump’s pardoning of individuals who violently attacked police during the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
On Friday, Murkowski was one of three Republicans who voted against Hegseth’s nomination, alongside Senators Susan Collins from Maine and Mitch McConnell from Kentucky. The nomination eventually moved forward with Vice President JD Vance casting the decisive vote. However, the majority of the Republican congressional representatives have rallied behind Trump.
Many of those GOP members who once voiced objections to Trump during his initial term have since vacated the Senate, including notable figures like the late John McCain of Arizona, Jeff Flake, Bob Corker from Tennessee, and Mitt Romney of Utah. This shift has resulted in a considerably reduced faction of Republicans who are willing to oppose Trump, increasing the likelihood of him facing less resistance from his party within Congress.
Beth Kerttula, a Democratic counterpart from Alaska who has known Murkowski for many years, asserts that Murkowski is not someone who easily succumbs to pressure. “She’s not going to buckle,” Kerttula stated. “She’s going to stand up for Alaska and for the right thing.”
Earlier in the week, Murkowski revealed her disapproval of Hegseth’s nomination, with Collins later sharing her concerns about Hegseth, who has been accused of excessive drinking and displaying aggressive behavior towards women. Murkowski, in a detailed post on social media, emphasized the importance of character in the role of Secretary of Defense, declaring it a non-negotiable priority.
“The leader of the Department of Defense must model the conduct we expect from all servicemembers, and the reservations I have regarding Mr. Hegseth’s nomination are ones I cannot ignore,” Murkowski articulated. This post collected a wave of public comments, reflecting the strong sentiments stirred by her stance, indicating her significant influence which she does not hesitate to assert.
Murkowski’s political career witnessed a pivotal moment in 2010 when party leaders abandoned her following a primary loss to tea party Republican Joe Miller. Despite this setback, she won a write-in campaign in the general election, retaining her Senate seat with widespread support by navigating a coalition that included backing from influential Alaska Native corporations.
In recent times, Murkowski has encountered backlash from the state Republican Party due to various positions, including her support for abortion rights and her vote to convict Trump during his impeachment related to the Capitol riots. Trump himself, having visited Alaska in 2022, pledged support for Murkowski’s conservative opponent, openly seeking to retaliate against her for her impeachment vote. He referred to her dissent as “almost a badge of honor” while labeling her “worse than a RINO,” abbreviated for Republican in name only.
Though not facing re-election until 2028, Murkowski has frequently defended her Republican credentials, asserting that she has been a party member since attaining the legal voting age. However, in 2021, she openly stated, “I am not a Trump Republican.” Meanwhile, Alaska Republican Party Chair Carmela Warfield, in her statements, pointedly noted the backing from Alaska’s junior senator, Dan Sullivan, for Hegseth while remarking on Trump’s success in the state during the November elections.
While Murkowski doesn’t consistently oppose Trump, she has acknowledged collaboration with state leaders and Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy in praising Trump’s executive order that encouraged oil and gas exploration, mining, and logging activities in Alaska. She has been a significant proponent for decades in the campaign to permit oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a legislative victory achieved under Trump’s administration.
Kerttula emphasized that although Murkowski and she do not align on every issue, Murkowski is a “real Alaskan Republican,” committed to understanding various perspectives while seeking productive outcomes. “You have to prioritize Alaska. Collaborating with others is essential, but stick to your principles,” Kerttula highlighted.
In Alaska, the electorate often consists of unaffiliated voters, resulting in longstanding traditions where political figures do not strictly adhere to party lines. Currently, despite Republicans holding over half of the legislative seats, both the House and Senate are managed by bipartisan coalitions. Historically, Alaska’s late Senator Ted Stevens established a friendship with Hawaii’s Democrat Daniel Inouye, showcasing a collaborative spirit that has influenced Alaskan politics, and Stevens had a significant mentorship role in Murkowski’s career.
Critics of Murkowski argue that she benefits from an electoral reform initiative that transitioned from traditional party primaries to open primaries paired with ranked-choice general elections. Supporters advocate that this system encourages candidates to pursue consensus and reduces negative campaigning. This system’s initial implementation occurred during the 2022 elections when Murkowski secured her position again while also facilitating the election of Democrat Mary Peltola to fill the House vacancy left by the passing of longtime Republican Representative Don Young. Peltola faced a loss in the subsequent year against Trump-endorsed Nick Begich, all while the new electoral framework narrowly survived efforts to repeal it. Murkowski publicly supported her friend Peltola’s House candidacy and appeared in campaigns urging voters to preserve the newly established election system.
