Senator Lisa Murkowski hinted at a possible run for Alaska governor as an open question for 2026. Speaking Monday in her Anchorage office, Murkowski told reporters, “Sure,” when asked whether she’s considering entering the race.
She described the comment as a little flippant, but she didn’t rule it out entirely. The senator emphasized that her current Senate duties demand a full-time commitment and will remain her immediate focus for the foreseeable future.
Governor Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, cannot run again due to term limits. The field of GOP hopefuls for 2026 already includes seven declared candidates. Those candidates include Lt. Gov Nancy Dahlstrom, former State Sen Click Bishop, Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor Edna DeVries, and Sen. Shelly Hughes.
Murkowski said she finds the growing candidate list interesting and compared it to the crowded 2022 race following Rep Don Young’s death. Though her Senate term runs through 2028, Murkowski did not comment on whether she plans to seek reelection afterward.
Recent polls by Ivan Moore show that her popularity has dropped since April, following her support of a controversial budget bill. Support fell from 46% to 33% while negative ratings increased from 45% to 60% mainly due to cuts in Medicaid and SNAP.
Despite the backlash, Murkowski defended her vote, saying her decision aimed to help Alaskans, not to score political points. She later voted against further spending cuts pushed by Trump, including reductions in public broadcasting and international aid programs.
