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Murkowski Endorses Democrat for Alaska Governor, Snubbing Trump

Updated 2:04 PM ET · 1:23 PM ETConfirmed

Politics Desk

In Short: Alaska's Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski endorsed Democratic candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins for governor, snubbing Trump-backed rivals.

Murkowski told Rebecca Palsha on Tuesday, 'JKT is young Alaskan with a view and a perspective that I think Alaska needs right now.' She also emphasized the need for a governor who 'understands that governing requires listening to people with different perspectives and finding common ground to solve the problems all of us face.'

Murkowski's endorsement came after she voted against the confirmations of several Trump appointees following his 2024 win. She has been a vocal critic of Trump, and he recently slammed her on Truth Social, calling her 'Republicans’ Worst Senator, by far.'

Kreiss-Tomkins, widely referred to as JKT, has been touting bipartisanship on the campaign trail. He said he was 'honored to have Senator Murkowski's support.' Murkowski noted that she has 'found fault' with the current GOP Governor Mike Dunleavy's administration, particularly regarding the Alaska Marine Highway System.

Murkowski's endorsement of Kreiss-Tomkins over Trump-endorsed Bernadette Wilson and other Republicans highlights her willingness to cross party lines. She previously endorsed Democrat Mary Peltola in 2024 for U.S. House, but backed Republican Dan Sullivan in his Senate race.

The NBC News Decision Desk rates the governor’s race in Alaska, where Trump won in 2016, 2020, and 2024, as leaning Democratic. Murkowski said, 'Alaskans don’t need any help voting for their preferred candidates, and the State of Alaska has already handled this by clearly distinguishing the candidates on this year’s ballot.'

Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the Justice Department’s lawsuit over Alaska’s Senate election, while Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola criticized it as a 'desperate attempt to silence Alaskans.' Peltola expressed concern about the level of desperation and hoped for a decisive margin to avoid prolonged disputes.

Murkowski emphasized her commitment to serving all Alaskans, regardless of party. She said, 'My directive is to serve the people of the state of Alaska. And that does mean Republicans and it does mean Democrats and means Independents and it means people who choose not to be affiliated with any party at all.'

Kreiss-Tomkins and his running mate Zac Johnson received bipartisan support from Murkowski, who encouraged Alaskans of every political stripe to take a close look at the candidates. She said, 'Alaska needs leaders who will put our state first, and I’m proud to support them.'

The endorsement underscores Murkowski's stance on bipartisanship and her criticism of Trump, while Kreiss-Tomkins highlighted the importance of addressing fiscal and energy issues for all Alaskans.

Murkowski's endorsement of Kreiss-Tomkins over Trump-backed rivals signals a shift in Alaska's political landscape, reflecting her commitment to bipartisan governance and her criticism of Trump's influence in the state.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• “JKT is young Alaskan with a view and a perspective that I think Alaska needs right now,” Murkowski told Rebecca Palsha on Tuesday.
• “We need a governor who’s going to work with the legislature,” she said.
• Alaska “Republican” Sen. Lisa Murkowski endorsed Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tompkins in the state’s race for governor, saying he “understands that governing requires listening to people with different perspectives and finding common ground to solve the problems all of us face,” Alaska Public Media reported.
• President Trump slammed Murkowski in a Truth Social post on October 24, calling her “Republicans’ Worst Senator, by far,” and called the RCV scheme “a TOTAL DEMOCRAT SCAM meant to confuse the Voter” and encouraged Alaskans to repeal it in next week’s general election.
• "Our future is too important to be hamstrung by partisan divisions," Murkowski said, according to a press release from the Kreiss-Tomkins campaign "Jonathan understands that governing requires listening to people with different perspectives and finding common ground to solve the problems all of us face. Alaska needs a serious conversation about our fiscal future, as well as a focus on the cost of energy and growing our economy. I believe Jonathan is committed to working toward solutions that serve all Alaskans, regardless of party," she added.
• Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has thrown her support behind Democratic Alaska gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins as well as his nonpartisan running mate for lieutenant governor Zac Johnson.
• Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the Justice Department’s lawsuit over Alaska ’s closely watched Senate election on Saturday, as Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said the department “should never have filed” the case.
• "I encourage Alaskans of every political stripe, whether Republicans, independents, or Democrats, to take a close look at Jonathan and Zac. Alaska needs leaders who will put our state first, and I’m proud to support them."

What's still developing

• In Alaska’s controversial ranked-choice voting (RCV) scheme, Kreiss-Tompkins is the only Democrat in the race against three Republicans: Trump-endorsed Bernadette Wilson, Dave Bronson, and Treg Taylor.
• "I am announcing my endorsement of Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins," Murkowski told KTUU, describing the candidate as "a common-sense guy who has a known ability to be working together."
• Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski explained her surprising choice to endorse a Democrat over the three Republicans in the four-way race, saying that the Democratic candidate wouldn't be "hamstrung by partisan divisions."
• "I think that they have left federal money on the table," Murkowski said of Dunleavy.
• 13, hours before he appeared for a rally in Wasilla.
• “This litigation seeks to ensure that after Alaskans cast their ballots, they are preserved in a manner so that only Alaska’s governing officials have the information necessary to make a determination as to whether Alaskan voters were confused or mislead [sic],” Blanche wrote.
• Sullivan Jr.’s candidacy a “SCAM” and said his administration was looking at “powerful legal options” to remove him from the ballot.
• “It is not playing well with Alaskans at all, and it’s sending a message that Dan Sullivan does not believe that Alaskans are sophisticated enough to know exactly who they’re voting for,” she said.

Sources

• Alaskasnewssourcelink
• Breitbartlink
• Fox Newslink
• Justthenewslink
• NBC Newslink
• Newsweeklink
• Justthenewslink
• MS NOWlink
• CBS Newslink
• WarpBeat — background on Murkowski Endorses Democratic Candidate for Alaska Governor link
• WarpBeat — background on Supreme Court Takes Up Trump-Backed Cases Amidst Legal Battles link
• Alaska's News Source — video link