Murkowski, a Republican, endorses Democrat Kreiss-Tomkins for Alaska governor
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) endorsed Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins for governor a week before Election Day, passing over three Republican candidates including Trump-backed Bernadette Wilson. Outlets differ on whether she has endorsed in the Senate race.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) endorsed Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, known as JKT, for Alaska governor, about a week before Election Day. NBC NewsLC “Sen. Lisa Murkowski endorsed the Democratic candidate for governor in her home state of Alaska on Tuesday” Read at NBC News ↗ Washington ExaminerR “Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) endorsed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 1The Washington Examiner said she released an email statement backing Kreiss-Tomkins and his running mate, Anchorage Assemblyman Zac Johnson, an independent, and urging voters to set partisan politics aside. Washington ExaminerR “Murkowski released an email statement in which she urged voters to set partisan politics aside” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 1In that statement she said Alaska needs a serious conversation about its fiscal future, energy costs and economic growth, and that Kreiss-Tomkins understands that governing requires listening to people with different perspectives. Washington ExaminerR “Alaska needs a serious conversation about our fiscal future, as well as focus on the cost of energy and growing our economy” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Left · 1In an interview with KTUU, Murkowski called Kreiss-Tomkins "a young Alaskan" with "a freshness of energy" and said the three Republican candidates on the ballot are too partisan; she said Wilson in particular would not work with Democrats and that the next governor must work with the Legislature. NBC NewsLC ““JKT is a young Alaskan with a view and a perspective that I think Alaska needs right now — a freshness of energy”“Murkowski raised concerns that Wilson wouldn’t work at any point with Democrats.” Read at NBC News ↗ Left · 1Kreiss-Tomkins, a former state lawmaker, told KTUU he was grateful, praised her integrity and said they had "had a few conversations" during the campaign. NBC NewsLC ““I have a lot of respect for Lisa, her integrity.” Read at NBC News ↗ Left · 1Republican Bernadette Wilson, whom President Donald Trump endorsed this month, dismissed the endorsement, saying Murkowski "abandoned Alaska values a long time ago" and calling her opponent "Just Keep Taxing" JKT. NBC NewsLC “Given that Senator Lisa Murkowski abandoned Alaska values a long time ago, I am not surprised that she has endorsed ‘Just Keep Taxing’ JKT” Read at NBC News ↗
Mixed · 2The race is to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy. Kreiss-Tomkins faces Republicans Dave Bronson, the former Anchorage mayor, Treg Taylor, the former attorney general, and Wilson. The Cook Political Report and the NBC News Decision Desk both rate it as leaning Democratic. Washington ExaminerR “The race to replace term-limited Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R-AK) is rated as “leans Democrat” by the Cook Political Report.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ NBC NewsLC “The NBC News Decision Desk rates the governor’s race in Alaska, where Trump won in 2016, 2020 and 2024, as leaning Democratic.” Read at NBC News ↗ Right · 1The Examiner said Murkowski has criticised the Dunleavy administration, saying it "left federal money on the table". Washington ExaminerR “I think that they have left federal money on the table.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Mixed · 2The Examiner said the move was unsurprising because she endorsed Democrat Mary Peltola in her failed 2024 House bid against Rep. Nick Begich, and said she had not yet endorsed Peltola in this year's Senate race against Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK). NBC reported instead that Murkowski has endorsed Sullivan in that competitive race. Washington ExaminerR “Murkowski has not yet endorsed Peltola in her bid against Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK)” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ NBC NewsLC “Murkowski, who isn’t up for re-election until 2028, endorsed GOP Sen. Dan S. Sullivan in his re-election bid this year.” Read at NBC News ↗
Mixed · 2Both outlets place the endorsement against Murkowski's clash with Trump. The Trump administration sued Alaska election officials, arguing that a candidate named Dan J. Sullivan Jr. on the ballot could mislead voters. Murkowski criticised the suit, and Trump then called her the "Republicans' Worst Senator, by far". NBC NewsLC “The Trump administration sued election officials in Alaska last week, arguing that Sullivan Jr.’s appearance on the ballot could mislead voters” Read at NBC News ↗ Washington ExaminerR “who this week bashed Murkowski as the “Republicans’ worst senator by far.”” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 1The Examiner added that Trump called Alaska's ranked choice voting "corrupt" and has urged a "yes" vote on a 2026 ballot measure to repeal it. Washington ExaminerR “In the 2026 elections, Alaskans are voting on a ballot measure to repeal ranked choice voting.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Frames the endorsement as a snub of GOP contenders, including Trump-backed Wilson, and as part of Murkowski's friction with Trump.
- Emphasis
- Murkowski's and Kreiss-Tomkins's interview remarks to KTUU, Wilson's sharp rebuttal, and Trump's endorsement of Wilson.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the ranked choice repeal ballot measure or Murkowski's criticism of the Dunleavy administration.
- Charged language
- “snubbing”
- For example
-
“snubbing GOP contenders who include a Trump-backed candidate a week out from Election Day” — NBC News
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Presents it as a cross-party backing that could move the needle for the only Democrat on the ranked choice ballot, tying it to Murkowski's record of cross-party voting and Trump's anger.
- Emphasis
- Murkowski's cross-party voting record, her past Peltola endorsement, her criticism of Dunleavy, Trump's attacks and ranked choice voting.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not report Wilson's response or Murkowski's endorsement of Sullivan; says she has not endorsed Peltola.
- Charged language
- “cross-party backing”“ire of President Donald Trump”
- For example
-
“a cross-party backing that could move the needle for the only Democrat on Alaska’s ranked choice ballot” — Washington Examiner
“The Alaska senator’s willingness has caught the ire of President Donald Trump” — Washington Examiner
What every side reports
- Murkowski endorsed Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins for Alaska governor.
- The other candidates are Republicans Dave Bronson, Treg Taylor and Bernadette Wilson.
- The race to succeed term-limited Gov. Mike Dunleavy is rated as leaning Democratic.
- Trump publicly attacked Murkowski this week as the "Republicans' worst senator" after she criticised the DOJ/Trump administration lawsuit over the Senate ballot.
Where accounts differ
-
Whether Murkowski has endorsed in the Alaska Senate race
- Left
- NBC News says she endorsed GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan's re-election bid.
- Right
- The Washington Examiner says she has not yet endorsed Mary Peltola against Sullivan, and does not mention an endorsement of Sullivan.
Lisa Murkowski person
Says Alaska needs a governor who works across party lines and with the Legislature, and finds the Republican candidates too partisan.
“We need a governor who’s going to work with the Legislature,”” — NBC News
“Our future is too important to be hamstrung by partisan divisions” — Washington Examiner
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins person
Thanks Murkowski and says her support joins the coalition his campaign is building.
“I’m very grateful that she wanted to step up and be a part of the coalition that we’re building.” — NBC News
Left2 articles
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GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski endorses Democratic candidate in Alaska governor’s race
Neutral Leads with the endorsement as a snub of Trump-backed Wilson and includes Wilson's attack on Murkowski.
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Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
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GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski backs Democrat in Alaska gubernatorial race
Neutral Reports the endorsement as a cross-party move with strategic weight, with background on Trump's hostility and ranked choice voting.
- 28 Oct 02:02 First Washington ExaminerR GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski backs Democrat in Alaska gubernatorial race
- 28 Oct 03:27 +1h 25m NBC NewsLC GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski endorses Democratic candidate in Alaska governor’s race
- 28 Oct 03:53 +1h 51m Raw StoryL GOP senator torpedoes Trump-backed candidate a week before Election Day: report
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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