Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska who has served for over two decades, has openly criticized the direction of the Republican Party and the influence of former President Donald Trump. She has not dismissed the possibility of leaving the party altogether.
In an interview with CNN, Murkowski described herself as “very independent minded,” which was her indirect response to whether she might leave the GOP to become an independent lawmaker. “I just regret that our party seems to be increasingly dominated by Donald Trump,” she expressed her disappointment.
Murkowski firmly stated she would not support the former president in the upcoming White House race. “I wish we, as Republicans, had a nominee I could support. I certainly can’t support Donald Trump,” she told CNN.
Murkowski is one of the seven Republicans who voted to convict Trump for his alleged role in inciting the violent Capitol riot at the end of his term. She has consistently criticized the former president and often diverged from party lines.
A seasoned conservative, Murkowski has distinguished herself by voting against Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination in 2018 and in favor of Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination in 2022. She also supported Nikki Haley, Trump’s longest-standing opponent for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, before Haley withdrew from the race.
In her conversation with CNN, Murkowski avoided a direct answer on whether she would stay with the party, which is increasingly centered around Trump. “I am navigating my way through some very interesting political times. Let’s just leave it at that,” she remarked.