In a statement today, former President Donald Trump says he is supporting Gov. Mike Dunleavy in 2022, unless Dunleavy decides to back Sen. Lisa Murkowski in her reelection. If Dunleavy does that, the endorsement is off.
“Mike Dunleavy has been a strong and consistent Conservative since his time in the Alaska State Senate. I was proud to endorse his first run for Governor, and I am proud to support his reelection, too. From his handling of the virus, support of the Constitution, including the Second and Tenth Amendments — taking advantage of all the opportunities Alaska has to offer, and his strong pushback abasing the Liberal Biden Administration’s attempt to hurt our great Country. Alaska needs Mike Dunleavy as Governor now more than ever. He has my Complete and Total Endorsement but, this endorsement is subject to his non-endorsement of Senator Lisa Murkowski who has been very bad for Alaska, including losing ANWAR, perhaps the most important drilling site in the world, and much else. In other words, if Mike endorsees her, which is his prerogative, my endorsement of him is null and void, and of no further force or effect!” Trump wrote in an official statement.
Dunleavy was elected in 2018 and is running for reelection in 2022. He won 51.4 percent of the vote. In 2020, Trump won Alaska for the second time, with over 53 percent of the vote.
“We certainly don’t believe Lisa Murkowski deserves anyone’s endorsement,” quipped Tim Murtaugh, spokesman for the Kelly Tshibaka campaign for Senate.
Dunleavy has not said who he prefers — Murkowski or Tshibaka — for U.S. Senate. Murkowski has held the seat since being appointed to it by her father, Gov. Frank Murkowski, in 2002. She has fought off challengers, even winning a write-in election in 2010, becoming the first U.S. senator in more than 50 years to win an election with a write-in campaign, when she beat Joe Miller after he won the Republican primary, and also defeated Democrat Scott McAdams. She easily won re-election in 2016.
Tshibaka is the former commissioner of Administration for the Dunleavy Administration and is endorsed by Trump for Senate.
