Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski’s statement that she would not vote on President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court had the potential to end her political career as former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin publicly threatened to run against her.
“So much hinges on the Supreme Court. You know the reason, you know why it’s so important, and that’s why you’re thinking you’re going to go rogue,” Palin said. “Lisa, I can see 2022 from my house.”
Some speculate this is why the senator subsequently backtracked, telling the press that she’ll still meet with Judge Amy Coney Barrett and consider voting for her on the Senate floor. The move leaves Senator Susan Collins from Maine as the only Republican Senator who is outright refusing to even consider President Trump’s nominee.
Will Senator Murkowski’s decisions prevent Palin from running against her in 2022? It’s impossible to say. Some pundits say that the state is “up for grabs” as there are plenty of independent, moderate voters who would be willing to consider candidates backed by the Democrat Party.
However, Murkowski has held her seat since 2002. As such, she’s a savvy politician who knows that she’ll have to explain her decision to voters in the next two years. She likely notices that Sen. Collins in Maine is having a rough race, due in part to the fact that she voted to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
It seems Sen. Murkowski is more concerned about alienating conservative voters than liberal ones, or else she wouldn’t have reversed her initial statements. However, even a “yes” vote on the issue may not be enough to appeal to Republican voters who want a genuine conservative to represent them.
The former governor could very well decide to launch a primary challenge against Sen. Murkowski in 2022. As she noted on social media, Republican voters have forgiven their current senator countless times as she went against her voter’s wishes. Even so, the odds are likely lower than they would have been had Sen. Murkowski held to her original position.
Murkowski has always been to the left of the Republican Party. Her stances on the issues isn’t nearly as liberal as her Democrat counterparts, but she isn’t exactly a Ted Cruz or a Rand Paul. The decision to not even consider President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee could have resulted in her being replaced.
Featured Image by Gage Skidmore
