Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) on Tuesday threw her support behind Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins in Alaska's gubernatorial race, a rare cross-party endorsement that underscores her long-running feud with the state's Republican establishment.
In a statement released by the Kreiss-Tomkins campaign, Murkowski praised the former state lawmaker for his dedication to working across the aisle, arguing that Alaska's next governor must be willing to bridge partisan divides. "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."
The endorsement comes just a week before Election Day, with Kreiss-Tomkins leading a four-way race to succeed term-limited Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R). A September New York Times/Siena poll showed Kreiss-Tomkins at 40 percent among likely voters, followed by Republican Bernadette Wilson at 20 percent, former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson at 15 percent, and former state Attorney General Treg Taylor at 11 percent.
Murkowski did not mince words when discussing the current administration. In an interview with Alaska News Source, she accused Dunleavy's team of squandering federal opportunities. "I have found fault with the Dunleavy administration," she said. "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."
Kreiss-Tomkins, who represented Sitka and surrounding communities in the state House for a decade, has centered his campaign on bipartisanship, pledging to include Republicans and independents in his administration. "I'm honored to have Senator Murkowski's support," he said. "Alaskans deserve a government that can work through disagreements and make progress on the issues that matter."
The endorsement is the latest in a series of breaks from her party by Murkowski, who has repeatedly clashed with President Trump. Trump, a vocal critic of ranked-choice voting, has already endorsed Wilson and urged Bronson and Taylor to drop out to avoid splitting the GOP vote. He has also attacked Murkowski on social media, calling her the "Republicans' Worst Senator" and a "DISGRACE to Alaska and our Country."
Murkowski's willingness to cross lines is not new. She previously endorsed former Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) in her unsuccessful 2024 reelection bid, and this year she is backing Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan in his race against Peltola. Her latest move could further complicate an already volatile political landscape in Alaska, where ranked-choice voting has reshaped campaign dynamics.
Political analysts note that Murkowski's endorsement could carry weight among independent and moderate voters, though its impact on a race already featuring a strong Democratic frontrunner remains uncertain. With early voting underway, the contest is shaping up to be a test of whether bipartisanship can still resonate in a deeply polarized era.
