Trump vows to travel to Alaska to campaign against Murkowski

Former President TrumpDonald Trump Trump announces new tranche of DeSantis approvals, Pence tied in 2024 Republican poll Lawmakers demand changes after National Guard troops on Capitol Hill became ill from contaminated food MORE promised to travel to Alaska to campaign against the senator. Lisa MurkowskiLisa Ann MurkowskiSenate Rejects Sanders’ Minimum Wage Hike The Hill’s Morning Report – Featured By Facebook – Virus Relief Bill En route To Weekend Vote Hillicon Valley: YouTube Restores Trump’s Account | House Election Bill Targets Foreign Interference | Senators introduce legislation to create international technology partnerships READ MORE (R) next year as she seeks re-election.

Murkowski, who first took office in 2002, has been a longtime critic of the former president and the GOP summit in recent votes. She resisted her party this week by announcing that she would support Rep. Deb HaalandDeb Haaland The Hill’s Morning Report – Brought to you by Facebook – Virus Relief Bill en route to weekend vote The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by ExxonMobil – Increased security on Capitol Hill amid the date of March 4 from QAnon, Murkowski votes with Senate committee to move Haaland’s nomination forward MOREThe appointment of (DN.M.) as Home Secretary, and she was one of seven Senate Republicans to vote to convict Trump in his impeachment trial last month.

She is the only one of the seven candidates to be re-elected in 2022.

“I will in no way approve of the failed candidate from the great state of Alaska, Lisa Murkowski. She misrepresents her state and her country even worse. I don’t know where the others will be next year, but I know where I’ll be – in Alaska to campaign against a disloyal and very bad senator, “Trump said in a statement to The Hill.” His vote to advance radical left Democrat Deb Haaland to Home Secretary is a another example of Murkowski’s non-defense for Alaska.

The threat marks the latest indication that Trump plans to fit heavily into 2022 races across the country.

Republicans predict Trump will present himself as a kingmaker in the GOP as he reflects on his own candidacy for 2024. Although he has seen his approval rating drop nationwide since the 6 January on Capitol Hill, his support is still coveted by Republican candidates eager to be loved by a base that still overwhelmingly supports the former president.

In his first approvals since leaving, Trump has primarily backed incumbent lawmakers who also enjoy establishment support. However, he warned sitting lawmakers that he could also fight for their defeats if he feels they haven’t backed him up enough or backing him up enough, with his threat to Murkowski a reminder that the office doesn’t is not protection on its own against a challenge from Trump.

“When necessary and appropriate, I will support key rivals who adhere to Making America Great Again and our America First policy. We want bright, strong, thoughtful and compassionate leadership, ”Trump said in a statement last month.

Realizing the threat, Trump last month endorsed former White House aide Max Miller, who is challenging the representative. Anthony GonzalezAnthony GonzalezTrump Announces New Slice of Republican Support, Please Save Your House GOP Campaign Leader: No need for Trump to meddle in primaries MORE (R-Ohio), one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump for his role in inciting the deadly Jan.6 insurgency.

Trump’s feud with Murkowski dates back at least to 2018. Murkowski voted against confirming Brett KavanaughBrett Michael Kavanaugh Justices Hear Fights Over Scope Of Guarantees For Minority Voters Supreme Court Facing Historic Voting Rights Challenge Will ‘Cover-up Cuomo’ Head To ‘Chief’s Prison’ ? AFTER to the Supreme Court that year and said in 2020 that Trump should not have appointed a replacement for the late judge Ruth bader ginsburgRuth Bader GinsburgBarrett Drafts First Supreme Court Majority Opinion Against Environmental Group How To Pass Senate Legislation Without Removing Filtration Bill Introduced to Create RBG Monument on Capitol Hill MORE after Republicans in 2016 refused to take on then-President Obama’s candidate for a vacant Supreme Court position in an election year.

While Trump’s threat to Murkowski marks the strongest sign to date of his intention to seek to overthrow her, the Alaskan Republican is no slouch in the election.

Murkowski in 2010 lost the GOP primary to a right-wing activist, but was eventually re-elected via a written campaign, emphasizing her appeal to voters beyond her party affiliation. And under Alaska’s ranked choice voting system, the top four winners in an open primary will advance to the general election, meaning she won’t have the same partisan pressure on her as she does. did so in 2010.

Beyond that, Murkowski is expected to gain the support of party organs. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Chairman of the Republican National Senate Committee, said in January he would back outgoing GOP senators against key Trump-backed challengers.

Republicans have expressed concerns that challenges to sitting lawmakers in the Trump wing of the GOP could endanger their midterm chances. Republicans are only five seats away from taking control of the House and one seat from winning the Senate and have sought to cover up the divisions in their early posts.

“Maybe in a more genteel time a lot of infighting and arguing wouldn’t do much harm. Honestly, I like to joke both ways, and I have no interest in trying to stifle intra-party political dialogue and debate, ”Scott wrote in a note in February. “But now is not the time for division and here is why: For the first time in our lives, socialism has become the staunch government policy of the Democratic Party.”

Yet the threat of a Trump challenge poses real risks for sitting lawmakers – a reality Murkowski acknowledged last month after his vote to condemn Trump.

“I know that my actions, my vote, can have political consequences. And I understand that. I fully understand that, ”she said. “But I can’t be afraid of this.

Murkowski’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill regarding Trump’s vow, which was first reported by Politico.