Lisa Murkowski crosses party lines to endorse Democrat in Alaska governor’s race

MS NOW · NBC News and NBC News report that Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican, is siding with Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins in Alaska's gubernatorial contest, defying her party with seven days left. The former state lawmaker gains a prominent Republican ally in the race to succeed Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who cannot run again.

Murkowski said Alaskans are tired of the status quo and want a governor who will cooperate with the Legislature, praising her pick's "freshness of energy." NBC News adds that she considers the three Republicans on the ballot too partisan. Kreiss-Tomkins said he admires her bipartisan record and is grateful for the backing. MS NOW says he leads recent polling, while NBC News says its Decision Desk rates the race as leaning Democratic.

Bernadette Wilson, the Republican Trump endorsed, brushed off the endorsement, saying Murkowski abandoned Alaska values long ago. MS NOW adds that Wilson vowed to work to unseat the senator. Dave Bronson and Treg Taylor are also on the ballot. NBC News notes that Trump denounced Murkowski last week after she criticized his administration's lawsuit over the ballot appearance of Dan J. Sullivan Jr., a candidate in the Senate race.

Summarized by PolitiKool from MS NOW · NBC News and NBC News’s reporting. Read the full story at MS NOW · NBC News → Also at NBC News →