After Donald Trump staged the biggest comeback in American political history on Nov. 5, 2024, the Alaska delegation had a decidedly mixed reaction.
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan was congratulatory, issuing a fullsome statement that was optimistic about Alaska and the future of the country:
“I want to congratulate President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance on their historic victory last night and I want to thank the hundreds of thousands of Alaskans who took the time to make their voices heard at the ballot box. I also want to congratulate my new and returning Senate colleagues on their hard-fought victories—returning Republicans to the majority in the U.S. Senate,” Sullivan said. “This election came down to the simple fact that millions of Americans were better off under a Trump presidency than under the last four years of the Biden-Harris administration. For Alaskans, the choice in this election was particularly stark, and in my view, it wasn’t even a close call. President Trump and his administration were an incredible partner to Alaska, listening to our concerns, taking actions to promote economic opportunity and good paying jobs, and putting Alaskans in the driver’s seat of our state’s destiny.
“Under the Biden-Harris administration, with strong help from Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Alaska sustained an unprecedented onslaught of negative, unwarranted federal actions—treatment no other state has ever experienced. With 67 executive orders and actions targeting our state, the Biden-Harris administration has sought to unravel the progress we achieved under the Trump administration by locking up our lands, killing our jobs, and harming our economy, all the while ignoring the voices of Alaskans and even defying federal law.
“As I did eight years ago, I will be working closely with President Trump, his administration, and my Senate colleagues to seize the opportunities before us, advance the interests and priorities of Alaskans, and make America stronger and more prosperous than ever before.
“This was a contentious and often heated campaign with strong, sincere feelings on both sides of the aisle. While we may disagree at times on what policies are best for our country, we should never forget that we are all Americans.”
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who considers Trump a traitor and an enemy of the nation, did not issue a statement. She has indicated in the past that she may switch her party to independent if Trump is elected.
Rep. Mary Peltola, who along with Murkowski refused this year to announce who they supported for president, also did not issue a statement. Peltola is currently losing her reelection bid to the U.S. House, which will likely be controlled by Republicans during the next two years. She has been mum for about 24 hours.
Vice President Kamala Harris conceded the election on Wednesday morning, but darkly: “There is an adage: Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars. I know many people feel like we are entering a dark time.”
Steve Schmidt, the political consultant who in 2008 convinced John McCain to pick Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for his vice presidential running mate, said this: “Fascism has come to America, and as predicted, it is wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”
we are just finishing a dark time. a cloud has been lifted
Yes Kamala, a note of truth to that adage – hence why Trump won as the darkness during your and Biden s ‘reign’ allowed people to see the dark age we had entered, and voted accordingly and loudly.
Lisa, please go and don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Yes Lisa please leave You make Republicans look bad
Lisa won’t survive another election with ranked choice voting or another village write in campaign
If Senator Murkowski follows through on the idea of becoming an independent, it would seem likely that the Republican Senate Majority would terminate her seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee. Those in Alaska that rely upon and benefit from her federal “pork” should reflect good and hard about that possible situation.