It would be an understatement to say that Trump used to hate Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R.AK) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, both of which he posted in Truth Social about the upcoming Senate race.
Trump posted a Wednesday endorsement for Kelly Tshibaka (Republican Senate Candidate), who was elected along with Murkowski in Alaska’s ranked choice primaries. Trump also took the opportunity to criticize McConnell for backing McConnell’s wrong horse. He also torched Murkowski’s record for good measure.
Trump wrote that McConnell was working to help Lisa Murkowski, an absolutely terrible Senator from Alaska, instead of fighting for or helping to finance Kelly Tshibaka, who is a brilliant and talented woman. “Murkowski destroyed everything good about Alaska, including ANWR. This project would have changed our Country’s course.” Everything Mitch McConnell wants, including Lisa Murkowski, is bad. Vote Kelly Tshibaka!
McConnell and Murkowski are not the only ones who have fired shots at the 45th president. Murkowski was placed on his permanent naughty List after he voted to convict him of “incitements of insurrection” during his impeachment trial in the 2021 Senate.
Trump pledged to unseat Murkowski, the few Republicans who voted for his impeachment trials, and to continue to pursue that goal until vengeance is exacted. He’s knocked out most of his opponents so far, including the most prized victory to date, Rep. Liz Cheney (R.WY).
Tshibaka was a former commissioner of the Alaska Department of Administration who had earlier in the year gone on record to raise questions about the results of the 2020 election. Trump officially supported Tshibaka in June.
CNN reported the following:
When Tshibaka was asked in April if she believed Trump won the 2020 election, Tshibaka replied to CNN that “We don’t know the outcome of 2020.”
Tshibaka said that there were many questions raised during the 2020 election. We are not permitted to investigate the allegations to find out what really happened. “I still have questions and I believe millions of Americans do, too.”
Tshibaka also took a number of shots at Murkowski, her Republican opponent. Tshibaka’s strategy favors portraying Murkowski as a typical out-of-touch RINO elitist who is more concerned about Washington D.C. than her constituents back home. This may not be too far off the mark.
According to NBC News, Tshibaka stated that Murkowski “every time she votes against the interests Alaskans, she damages the people of this State, but she doesn’t feel it.” “We, the people, are the ones who pay the price for her popularity.”
It is easy to see how she would make a great match for Trump and his supporters. Her campaign website states:
I will make the government work for us, not against us. I am a conservative. I support life, the 2nd Amendment, and America first, always. I am proud to have been endorsed by President Donald Trump, the Alaska Republican Party, and many other leaders and citizens from Alaska.
Harvard Law grad and Alaskan political newcomer is growing in popularity every day. She has several endorsements that will add to her endorsement from the former President. Many of the people who finished behind her in August’s primaries dropped out to offer their endorsement. This was evident when Buzz Kelley, a fourth-place finisher in the August primaries, decided to abandon his campaign and support Tshibaka.
It will be fascinating to watch this race move toward the finish line. The RNC will have to choose between supporting Trump’s popularity and influence within the party, or sticking with Murkowski and risk alienating large portions of MAGA GOP voters.
