By ZACK GOTTSHALL
Sen. Lisa Murkowski recently declared on national television: “The GOP is more of a MAGA party, and I don’t fit well.”
Let’s be honest — that wasn’t news. It was a long-overdue confession.
Sen. Murkowski hasn’t represented the Republican Party’s values in over a decade. In 2010, she lost her primary and returned to the US Senate only by way of a write-in campaign supported largely by Democrats and independents. Since then, she’s voted to convict President Donald Trump, opposed constitutionalist judicial nominees, and regularly sides with the very left-wing interests she claims to “balance.”
Now she openly admits she doesn’t align with the party at all.
So the real question is this: Why does the senator still call herself a Republican when it’s politically convenient, yet reject Republican values when it matters most? And why does the Alaska GOP continue to treat her like she’s one of us, as if she’s fighting for conservative principles, when time and again, she’s shown she’s not?
Murkowski often claims she is “voting her conscience” or “representing her constituents.” But the facts don’t back that up. Alaskans voted for President Donald J. Trump three times: In 2016, 2020, and again in 2024. He won our state by clear margins each time. The majority of Alaskans support conservative, pro-America policies, not the DC brand of bipartisan gamesmanship Murkowski defends.
So when she claims to speak on behalf of Alaskan voters, she is clearly wrong. Her record aligns more with the priorities of Senate Democrats than with the Republican majority of her own state.
Across Alaska, numerous Republican House Districts have passed formal censure resolutions against Senator Lisa Murkowski, including Districts 3, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 26, 29, and 31. District 6 on the Kenai Peninsula even invoked the Alaska GOP’s Article VII rule, calling for Murkowski’s permanent disqualification from endorsements or official support.
But despite this widespread and growing demand from the grassroots, party leadership has refused to place the matter on the agenda of a State Central Committee meeting, and the State Central Committee has failed to assert its authority to force the issue or bring it forward for a vote.
Worse still, some Republican leaders actively pressure or punish conservatives who challenge Murkowski’s influence, discouraging opposition and rewarding loyalty to the status quo. That’s not leadership — that’s cowardice.
It should not be controversial to say that a Republican senator should support Making America Great Again. MAGA is not a cult or a slogan. It’s a mission: Secure our borders. Protect our rights. Strengthen families. End government bloat. Defend our Constitution. Rebuild what was lost.
If Murkowski rejects that, then let her. But don’t let her keep the “R” next to her name while she votes like a Democrat and mocks the very people she claims to represent.
This isn’t about revenge. It’s about accountability. The Alaska Republican Party must stop enabling betrayal and start standing for something.
If Murkowski wants to caucus with Democrats, fine. But let her do it as one of them, not as a fraud hiding behind the Republican name.
We need bold conservatives. We need principled leadership. And we need to stop cowering behind political convenience.
Alaskans deserve a senator who reflects their values, not one who defies them. If Murkowski chooses to walk away from the Republican Party in principle, then Alaska voters should replace her in practice. We have the strength, the talent, and the grassroots momentum to elect a bold, unapologetic conservative who will fight for our state, defend our Constitution, and support the America First agenda.
Alaska doesn’t need a Democrat with an “R” by her name — we need a Republican who governs like one.
Alaska Republicans: demand a vote to censure Lisa Murkowski. Demand the GOP act like the conservative party it claims to be. And if party leadership won’t do it — replace them.
Enough is enough.
Zack Gottshall is former Vice Chair of the Alaska Republican Party.
I’m anxious to see if her sanctimonious high moral compass will now turn on the democrats over the hoax on Russian collusion, the cloaking of Biden’s competence and decision making.
It would force her hand if republicans put a strong candidate up now.
The vile and loathsome Princess Lisa HATES the idea of making America (sic) great again, and is really more in the MARLA camp — Make America Radical Leftist Always.
She is a corrupt swamp creature to her core, and a traitor to this state and to this nation.
Do they (the AK GOP) really thing we’re gonna take them seriously now?
She doesn’t fit in Alaska period. Go away Lisa.
That’s what Nancy and I told her too. Lisa no longer fits well in Alaska, and does better far away from home. That’s why we purchased a nice place in Palm Desert. When we are gone, Lisa will have a place where few people know her and could actually stand to be around her.
It will help dry out her wet, soggy brain too.
Oh good, now I have a place to wear my new shorts, flip flops and Aloha shirts to. I hope Frankie has good air conditioning ….to drown out the sounds of Lisa’s constant bitching about Trump.
Whenever Lisa calls us at Palm Desert to complain about Trump, we just crank up the air conditioners. Clean air is a beautiful thing.
Looking back on all of this, Verne probably wonders why he ever sold the restaurant. Now he’s just packing around copies of unsold books for Lisa, hoping to find a few buyers. LOL.
Her book is a heap of trash. It belongs in the warehouse with all of Hillary Clinton”s unsold books.
Hallelujah!
murkowski is not for Alaska or for the common citizen, she is for lisa & what lisa wants!
Alaska Republican Party?
The same ones that caucus with the democrats in the State house?
Don’t hold your breath.
Why can’t the AK legislature or perhaps the state Republican Party make a rule that requires authorization from the party to use the party’s name? They should be able to at least control who uses the party name on the ballot. Considering how the Democratic Party got burned by Eric Hafner in 2024, such a bill in the AK state legislature might have bipartisan support.
As for coming up with some way to measure how representative Murkowski is of Alaska voters, her recent vote totals are a better indication of that than the totals of a recent presidential election. From what I have read online and in AI search mode at Google, Alaskans not identifying or registering as either D or R are between 60 and 65%, and those registered as Republican are only 24%.
They tried to do that. The RINO’s cited the First amendment and they won. They can say they are anything they want. The division of elections won’t stand up to them.
Could you please cite the case or provide a link? It most certainly does not violate the first amendment for a private organization to require a candidate to get a letter of authorization to use the party’s name on the ballot. At the very least, the Republican party could apply for naming rights, which the Libertarian Party has done, and that did not violate 1st amendment. The Libertarian Party in my state has denied many people the ability to run under the Libertarian brand, and no one claimed a violation of 1st amendment.
Are you referring to how people register? Why does Alaska state government bother to register voters if it does not hold closed primaries? Is there any other state that does that? There’s no good reason for AK to do it, and it’s an unnecessary burden for AK government. Furthermore, since party labels are now completely meaningless in AK, CA and WA, it’s a joke to put them on a ballot. Might as well go nonpartisan.
“That’s not leadership — that’s cowardice.” – No, that’s a grift.
grift: transitive verb : to obtain (money or property) illicitly (as in a confidence game) intransitive verb : to acquire money or property illicitly.
Great article. I wholeheartedly agree.
Totally agree with you! Thank you for putting it into writing and sharing it.
I’ve been saying this for a long time everywhere I could. So how do the rank and file Republicans in this state make the powers that be hear us regarding Murkowski. It’s time.
Go to a District meeting. Donate.
Lyin’ Lisa has never done anything positive FOR Alaska and Alaskans.
She just needs to announce her retirement and not run again.
READ THE “ROOM”
Not in a while – she used to follow Ted Stevens’ lead.
Seems not too many years ago, the alleged AKGOP censured Princess and said she dressed funny.
And that was it. No pressure on her to behave, no motion to expel her from the party, and best of all a lukewarm effort to support Kelly T when she challenged Princess
Once RCV saved her backside, the alleged AK GOP rescinded the censure. Why? Because she won.
Poor Craig Campbell was sent her to toe the party line and was … poorly received, to put it mildly.
And after that show, plus your failure to reign in Queen Sarah, and the empty suit of a governor, you expect us to believe in you now?
Get back to us when you do something of substance.
More bullsh//. I was there. Kelly’s support was nearly unanimous. We never said Lisa dressed funny – we didn’t like most of what she supported in Congress and the anger was so strong it became foolish. The Party has no authority to kick anyone out, only to remove support. Get over it MA – get involved if you want to have any influence at all. Politics, being what it is, never gets you everything you want – even when you are right. Stop sniping from the nosebleed section and get your butt onto the field.
It is easy to criticize Senator Murkowski when you sit in the over’s seat of the Republican Party machinery.
Just because people voted for Trump does not discount the fact that Murkowski won on a write-in ballot.
Representatives are ejected to implement the will of the people. Considering our system is rigged to have two parties with any chance of being elected, Senator Murkowski, I believe is trying to find a way to remind us; compromise, putting the needs of constituents first, not the desires of party is of paramount importance.
In his farewell address President George Washington said, “it occurs as a matter of serious concern that any ground should have been furnished for characterizing parties by geographical locations, Northern and Southern- Atlantic and Western; whence designing men may endeavor to excite a belief that there is a real difference of local interests and views.
One of the expedients of party to acquire influence within particular districts is to misrepresent the opinions and aims of other districts.”
Mr. Gutshall, I believe you and most of Senators Murkowski’s detractors misrepresent what is going on in Washington by commenting on those facts you nitpick to support you views.
To paraphrase the late Paul
Harvey, tell us the “rest of the story” about Mrs. Murkowski’s service to the citizens of her state.
Coming from the most liberal state in the Union (California) I am proud to see someone stand up for what she believe and not follow party policies when they prove detrimental to her constituents.
Her job is to represent her constituents, not stand up for what she believes. Every time I have written her about my concerns, when I finally her back from her with a form letter, it says what she believes, what she wants, not one word, ever, about what her her constituents want or believe or representing them. Alaska voters have done a great job at ignoring the fact that she is a democrat while claiming to be a republican, as evidenced by her constant vote with the democrats. They count on her vote. Fortunately, her democrat vote is rendered irrelevant because now there are enough Republicans to make it meaningless, except she doesn’t represent her voters.
“Sen. Murkowski hasn’t represented the Republican Party’s values in over a decade.”
I would argue she has NEVER represented that party’s values. Closed primary elections: it’s the only way to dissociate her name with the party. I’m all for it, though it would be handy if voter turnout at those elections wasn’t so anemic. I say, “let each party put forward the candidates who best represent their platform. LP, GOP, AIP, and the Dipstick Party,”. Non-partisans (like me) and the undeclared can forego primaries and focus on general elections. As most Alaskans seem to do anyway.
I gotta call bullsh// Zack – this article with all its bitterness and lies is exactly why the Alaska GOP fails. The State GOP censured Lisa – it just drove her further into Chuckie Shoe’s arms. Very few on the SCC support her – they endure her. The true-con element calls for the SCC to DO SOMETHING, while totally overlooking the small amount of good she does and ignoring the fact that the SCC is powerless (by GOP rules and law) to do anything but primary her. If us true-cons would put all that hate energy, time, and money into a strong primary candidate, we could unseat her. I’d love to see it happen at this point. But useless and false accusations against the Party structure are ignorant and harmful.
Can we just be done with this family of grifters and move on, just as we did with Palin?
Frank was the ultimate con man pulling a long con on us. For Gods sake he became an all but forgotten one term governor just to put his appointed princess upon the electorate. In our foolish game of believing better is the devil you know than one you don’t, we keep renewing and paying for this unwanted subscription that is an affront to our senses and sensibilities.
We can survive and thrive without Murkowski. Let’s finally cut the chord and let her run off with her pal Collins they can retire to Florida and menace some cursed HOA.
Your article is spot on – Murkowski is a traitorous, dishonorable Republican who can’t set aside her petty differences with Trump to realize that MAGA is a positive movement for America and Alaska.
It’s not just Princess Lisa though. Many Alaska Republicans have actively worked against their party; some of the worst are Representatives Stutes and Kopp, and Senators Bishop, Geisel, Merrick, Steven’s and Stedman. One of the main causes of this is the tremendous political impact that unions exert in Alaska. While most private sector union rank and file members are all about making America/Alaska great, the leadership positions are dominated by hardcore leftists. Too many Alaska Republicans are in the pocket of organized labor and this has poisoned the Party. It’s a cancer that allows deceitful, self-serving politicians to thrive.
Lisa’s term ends in January 2029! Lisa should retire now while we have a Republican governor! For once in your life Lisa, do the right thing and RETIRE NOW!
I admire Murkieski. She is a Republican who can see that conservative values have been morphed into racism, misogyny, elitism, and disdain for those who work for a living. She tries to do what is best for rich and poor, left and right, straight or gay, adults and children, male and female. MAGA is a group that blindly follows and understands little of what is being done to change this world for the worse. Look at the environmental, human, and racial mistakes oh the 1950s. Being “woke” just means we now see and have learned from those mistakes. MAGA is determined to recreate the 1950’s where old, white men ruled and women and people of color said, “Yes, sir.”
I think your article was spot on. I wish we could primary Lisa out of the Republican Party. In order to do that you would need a conservative Republican to run against her. The Republican Party in Alaska can’t seem to find anyone else they are willing to get behind for that role. I don’t quite understand why?
Seems you could find one conservative Republican in Alaska. I know this “rank choice voting “ is a voting scheme to keep RINO’s in power. Wholly endorsed by the Democrats. I sincerely wish that could be done away with. Alaska did just fine without it for years.
Lisa is not representing her constituents. She’s totally tone deaf to the conservative voice’s in Alaska. She’s a diehard Democrat and votes like one. She says she’s voting her conscience. Seems 95% of the time she sides with Democrats. Especially when it was a critical vote for Republicans. I’m pretty sure that makes her 95% Democrat, not Republican.
Lisa should stop filling a conservative seat. It’s dishonest behavior. The Republican Party leadership in Alaska should stop supporting, in any way, a RINO. Her record speaks for itself. Repeating this experience and expecting a different outcome is the purist form of denial and dilution. If you want to change the leftest radical behavior in the DC swamp, the only way is to change who’s going there to represent us. Vote her out now! Show the country that it can be done. One RINO at a time.