U.S. Senate candidate Kelly Tshibaka was the keynote speaker at the Interior Republicans luncheon Friday, expanding on her theme that incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski has not done enough to defend Alaska and has become “more like the D.C. insiders than us.”
In a break with its liberal tradition, the Fairbanks News-Miner reported on the speech in fair terms and ran its story across the top of the front page, shown above. The newspaper rarely, if ever, reports on speakers of the Republican luncheon unless it’s the governor.
Sixty-six people attended the luncheon at the Westmark Hotel’s Gold Room, including a dozen who had not attended the luncheon before.
In the audience was an Alaska Native woman who said Democrats recruit Native communities but don’t actually represent them. She was a supporter of all that Tshibaka was speaking about and was going to reach out to her Native friends and associates. The Filipino community was also represented. Two borough assembly members attended the luncheon, which is the same as the old Denny’s luncheon group, but in a new location.
Tshibaka met with over 200 people in Fairbanks, speaking with the Interior Patriots, the Association of Mature American Citizens Fairbanks chapter, and four smaller meet-and-greets hosted by supporters. On Saturday morning, she met with faith leaders at the Cookie Jar restaurant. On Saturday evening, she will be at the Friends of the NRA banquet.
