Alaska GOP Deals Huge Blow To Lisa Murkowski, Officially Endorses Her Rival Kelly Tshibaka Says Candidate
Incumbent Alaska GOP Senator Lisa Murkowski just got some terrible news from the Alaska state Republican Party. The Alaska GOP officially endorsed Murkowski’s rival Kelly Tshibaka today in a move many saw coming when Trump promised to campaign against Lisa.
The state Republican party has not yet publicly confirmed the endorsement but Tshibaka went public with the vote totals anyway. She said in a statement that she was “grateful and thrilled to have the strong support of the Alaska Republican Party,” which she noted “voted overwhelmingly to endorse” her.
“We all share a unified goal: to promote the principles upon which our country and state were founded,” wrote Tshibaka.
“I have pledged that I will be true to our shared, conservative Alaska ideals and be a senator upon whom they can depend to make every decision based on what is best for our great state,” she said.
“It is time for conservative leaders, with courage and common sense, to rise together across the nation. I am honored to be endorsed as that candidate for Alaska.”
Trump endorsed Tshibaka last month saying: “Murkowski has got to go.”
“Kelly Tshibaka is the candidate who can beat Murkowski — and she will. Kelly is a fighter who stands for Alaska values and America First.”
“I look forward to campaigning in Alaska for Kelly Tshibaka. She has my Complete and Total Endorsement!”
From CNN:
Trump threw the weight of his endorsement behind Kelly Tshibaka, a former Alaska Department of Administration commissioner who had announced her challenge to the incumbent back in March.
“Lisa Murkowski is bad for Alaska,” Trump said in a statement released from his Save America PAC. “Murkowski has got to go! Kelly Tshibaka is the candidate who can beat Murkowski—and she will. Kelly is a fighter who stands for Alaska values and America First. She is MAGA all the way, pro-energy, strong on the Border, tough on Crime and totally supports our Military and our great Vets.”
And with that, Murkowski officially became Enemy No. 1 for Trump — and the former President (and still the most powerful figure within the GOP) put himself in direct conflict with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Kentucky), who has endorsed Murkowski for reelection.
Trump’s endorsement comes as little surprise, given that he has been vocally opposed to Murkowski for months.
I am honored to be Endorsed by the Alaska Republican Party! In the Senate, I will always fight for our Conservative values. pic.twitter.com/MbXxhMymfq
— Kelly Tshibaka (@KellyForAlaska) July 10, 2021