Alaska Governor Accepts Trump’s Endorsement, Signals He Will Not Endorse Murkowski

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) has accepted former President Donald Trump’s endorsement with the stipulation that he will not endorse Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).

In a statement on Thursday, Trump shared a note from Dunleavy that read, “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 great country.”

Trump wrote, “This is why Mike Dunleavy of Alaska 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 opportunity for the Great State of Alaska!”

As Inside Elections’ Jacob Rubashkin noted in a tweet, it was “unclear if meant for this note to Trump, promising he won’t endorse 👤Lisa Murkowski, to be public.”

“But it is now!” he added.

Murkowski is one of seven Republicans who voted to convict Trump on the charge of incitement of insurrection in his second impeachment trial in February.

The Alaska Republican Party voted to censure Murkowski in March partly based on her impeachment vote. It vowed to “recruit a Republican Party challenger to oppose and prohibit Senator Murkowski from being a candidate in any Republican primary to the extent legally permissible.”

Murkowski will face off against Kelly Tshibaka, who has received Trump’s backing and the support of Alaska’s Republican Party.

In a statement on Tuesday, Trump wrote, “Mike Dunleavy has been a strong and consistent Conservative since his time in the Alaska State Senate. I was proud to endorse his first run for Governor, and I am proud to support his reelection, too.”

“From his handling of the virus, support of the Constitution — including the Second and Tenth Amendments — taking advantage of all the opportunities Alaska has to offer, and his strong pushback against the Liberal Biden Administration’s attempt to hurt our great Country. Alaska needs Mike Dunleavy as Governor now more than ever,” he continued.

“He has my Complete and Total Endorsement, but this endorsement is subject to his non-endorsement of Senator 👤Lisa Murkowski who 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!” he added.