Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy Accepts Trump Endorsement, Agrees Not to Support Lisa Murkowski

Katherine HamiltonDecember 31, 2021

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) accepted former President Donald Trump’s reelection endorsement, which is contingent upon him dissing current Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R).

Trump extended the conditioned endorsement Tuesday, saying while he supports Dunleavy’s “strong and consistent” conservative leadership, Murkowski has been “very bad for Alaska.”

“In other words, if Mike endorses her, which is his prerogative, my endorsement of him is null and void, and of no further force or effect,” the former president explained.

On Thursday, Trump released a statement with a note from Dunleavy, confirming the governor agreed not to support Murkowski, who is also running for reelection in the U.S. Senate.

“Please tell the President thank you for the endorsement. With regard to the other issue, please tell the President he has nothing to worry about. I appreciate all 45 has done for Alaska and this country,” Dunleavy wrote.

Trump said Dunleavy’s agreement of his terms shows why he “has been, and will be, a great Governor.”

“He has the courage of his convictions. Lisa Murkowski is the ‘disaster from Alaska,’ who single-handedly blew ANWR, one of the largest energy sites in the world, and an incredible economic development opportunity for the Great State of Alaska!” Trump said.

Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-AK., questions Xavier Becerra, President Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee at the US Capitol in Washington DC, on February 23, 2021. (Leigh Vogel/AFP via Getty Images)

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R) (Leigh Vogel/AFP via Getty Images).

Trump’s endorsement of Dunleavy is largely considered part of the former president’s promise to campaign against Murkowski in retaliation for her decision to vote to impeach him after the January 6 riot. Murkowski announced in November she will seek reelection.

This year, the former president endorsed Murkowski’s Republican primary challenger, Kelly Tshibaka, who worked formerly as commissioner of Alaska’s Department of Administration under Dunleavy.

Kelly Tshibaka/Facebook

At the time, Trump said, “Tshibaka is the candidate who can beat Murkowski,” touting her as “a fighter who stands for Alaska values and America First.”