New developments are coming out of Alaska as the politics gets a little chippy in the 49th state.
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) who is up for reelection herself has pledged to not vote for former Alaska Governor and Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin (R), The Daily Wire reports.
Murkowski took it one step further pledging her vote for Palin’s Democrat challenger and current Representative from Alaska Mary Peltola.
Peltola defeated Palin in a special election to fill the vacancy created from the death of Alaskan Representative Don Young (R).
The report continued:
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) told reporters following an event in Anchorage that she is “so happy to welcome Mary Peltola as our representative for all of Alaska,” according to the Anchorage Daily News. Peltola, a Democrat, won a special election held in August to replace the late Rep. Don Young (R-AK), who died in March after serving as the state’s lone representative for nearly 50 years.
A reporter with the Anchorage Daily News asked the senator if she planned on putting Peltola’s name first on Alaska’s new ranked-choice voting ballot in November. Murkowski responded, “Yeah, I am,” later explaining that “Mary is a friend. … We have been friends for 25 years, and the fact that we’re Republican and Democrat has never interfered with that friendship.”
The Democrat has campaigned on fighting climate change, strengthening Obamacare, supporting abortion rights, and pushing for the leftist LGBTQ Equality Act. Peltola defeated Republicans Palin and Nick Begich III in a surprise victory for Democrats in Alaska’s first-ever ranked-choice voting election.
Murkowski is known for breaking with Republicans in the Senate. She has famously done so on issues like abortion and the repeal of Obamacare in 2017.
Murkowski said of her lack of loyalty to the GOP, “I know that bothers some people who want me to be that rigid, partisan person, and I’m just not. I’m not, haven’t been, and I won’t be,” Murkowski said. “I do not toe the party line just because party leaders have asked or because it may be expected. My first obligation is to the people of the state of Alaska.”
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