US Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s standing with Alaska voters has taken a serious hit, according to a new poll conducted by Alaska Survey Research from July 29 to August 1.
As she toys with the idea of running for governor, the poll shows a dramatic downturn in her favorability ratings, especially among moderate and progressive voters, once key components of her support base.
Murkowski’s overall favorable rating now stands at 33%, down 13 percentage points from April. Her unfavorable rating has risen to 60%, up 15 points over the same period. This marks a net favorability swing of negative 28 points, a steep decline in just four months.
Breakdown by Political Affiliation
- Moderates: Murkowski’s net favorability among moderate voters dropped from +28 in April to +2, a 26-point fall.
- Progressives: The decline was even more pronounced among progressives, where her net favorability plummeted from +54 to -21, a 75-point drop.
- Conservatives: Her ratings among conservatives remain largely unchanged at -64, reflecting a long-standing dissatisfaction.
The erosion of support from progressives and moderates raises questions about Murkowski’s political future. Once seen as a centrist who could navigate Alaska’s unique political terrain, she now finds herself isolated from both the left and the right. At age 68, she has two years left in her Senate term. She will be 70 during her next campaign for Senate, but if she decides to run for governor, she’d be 70 during her first year of office. Either way, it’s a big decision.
Much of the recent liberal discontent may stem from Murkowski’s support of the Big Beautiful Bill, a federal package she voted for earlier this summer. While the bill included major infrastructure investments and energy provisions favorable to Alaska, it has drawn sharp criticism from her leftist base voters for what they view as concessions to industry and compromises on climate and social safety net funding.
These latest numbers may complicate that path to governor. With progressives now turning against her and no gains among conservatives, she appears to be politically adrift.
The senior senator has lost support from the very voters who once buoyed her through multiple election cycles, including her write-in campaign against Joe Miller and her campaign being behind the rigging of Alaska elections with ranked-choice voting, so she would not have to face a Republican primary. As political chatter grows around a possible gubernatorial bid, this data suggests that if Murkowski intends to mount any campaign, she’s in a world of hurt with the voters.
