GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski backs Democrat in Alaska gubernatorial race

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) endorsed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, a cross-party backing that could move the needle for the only Democrat on Alaska’s ranked choice ballot.Murkowski released an email statement in which she urged voters to set partisan politics aside and support Kreiss-Tomkins, colloquially known as JKT, and his running mate, Anchorage Assemblyman Zac Johnson, an independent.“Our future is too important to be hamstrung by partisan divisions,” Murkowski said. “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 focus on the cost of energy and growing our economy,” she continued. “I believe Jonathan is committed to working toward solutions that serve all Alaskans, regardless of party. I encourage all Alaskans of every political strip, 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.”The race to replace term-limited Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R-AK) is rated as “leans Democrat” by the Cook Political Report. Kreiss-Tomkins is facing Republicans Dave Bronson, the former Anchorage mayor; Treg Taylor, the former attorney general; and Bernadette Wilson, a conservative activist and businesswoman.The move is not surprising for Murkowski, who previously endorsed former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola in her failed reelection campaign against Rep. Nick Begich (R-AK). Murkowski has not yet endorsed Peltola in her bid against Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK), one of the most competitive races in the midterm elections.She has also been critical of the Dunleavy administration, particularly in its handling of federal funding.“I have found fault with the Dunleavy administration,” Murkowski told Alaska’s KTUU. “I think that they have left federal money on the table. I think in certain areas, where we have worked hard to put opportunities from the federal side, here, into the state, the state has failed with it.”In Congress, Murkowski is one of the Senate’s top cross-party voters, second to only Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). The Alaska senator’s willingness has caught the ire of President Donald Trump, who this week bashed Murkowski as the “Republicans’ worst senator by far.”Trump claimed Murkowski was behind Alaska’s “corrupt” ranked choice voting system, saying it was the sole reason she secured reelection.Murkowski has publicly denounced the Department of Justice’s lawsuit challenging Alaska’s election results next week if it is determined the Senate race was affected by “voter confusion,” as the incumbent and a challenger share the same name. Murkowski has countered that the state can handle its own elections.TRUMP RIPS ALASKA’S ‘CORRUPT’ RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN ATTACK ON MURKOWSKIAlaska uses a top-four primary, in which the four highest vote-getters from the August primary advance to the general election. Voters can rank up to four candidates, and the person with the fewest votes after each round is eliminated, with ballots reapportioned or exhausted until the winner clears 50%.In the 2026 elections, Alaskans are voting on a ballot measure to repeal ranked choice voting. Trump has expressed his displeasure with the system on multiple occasions and encouraged the state to vote “yes” to move away from the system.