Republican Christopher Kurka, candidate for State House in District 7, has been endorsed by a name familiar in Alaska politics: Joe Miller of Fairbanks, the publisher of Restoring Liberty website and a former Republican nominee for U.S. Senate who lost to Sen. Lisa Murkowski after winning the Republican Primary. Murkowski went on to do a successful write-in campaign to retain her seat.
“I am thrilled to have the endorsement of one of Alaska’s conservative thought leaders,” Kurka said. “Joe has been in this fight for a long time, and nobody knows the score better than he does. I am both humbled and honored by his support.”
Miller’s endorsement came the day after the Alaska Republican Party endorsed Lynn Gattis, former representative, to return to the position after being out of politics for four years.
District 7 Republicans also endorsed Gattis over Kurka.
Miller has a following on the far right side of the Alaska Republican Party, but many Miller followers are in the Wasilla area of Alaska.
“If you’re like me, you’re sick and tired of the games being played in Juneau,” Miller said in his written endorsement. “Conventional politicians tell you what you want to hear at election time, but when it’s time to gavel in they do what they’re told. What we need above all else right now are leaders who are willing to stand up to the Big Government Special Interests and deliver for the citizens they represent. Christopher Kurka is a proven conservative who has not just talked the talk, but has also walked the walk.”
He cited Kurka’s work as the former executive director of Alaska Right to Life.
“My opponent has been part of the system for years,” Kurka said, referring to Gattis, who served in the Legislature for several years until 2016. Kurka attacked Gattis as “helping to create this financial crisis, she’s now telling us she’s the one to fix it. I’m running because it’s time for new people, new ideas, new leadership, and a long overdue course correction.”
