Republican senator makes a stunning admission: 'I can't be somebody that I'm not'



Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska signaled that she would be open to a major political shake-up, but on one condition.

Murkowski, who has a track record of bucking her party, admitted on a new episode of the "GD Politics" podcast that she would be open to caucusing with Democrats and even changing her party affiliation to independent if she felt it benefited her constituents. Although Murkowski has repeatedly refrained from voting alongside Republicans on key votes, she also acknowledged that there are certain aspects of the Democratic Party she simply disagrees with.

'There is some openness to exploring something different.'

"I have to figure out how I can be most effective for the people that I serve," Murkowski said. "That's why I'm going to continue to do a really hard job, because I want to try to help people."

"My problem with your hypothetical is that as challenged as I think we may be on the Republican side, I don't see the Democrats being much better," Murkowski said. "And they've got not only their share of problems, but quite honestly, they've got some policies that I just inherently disagree with."

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Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Murkowski managed to evade directly addressing whether she would change her party affiliation to independent, but she expressed an "openness" to it.

"There is some openness to exploring something different than the status quo."

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Murkowski noted that she has been pressured to change her party affiliation to Libertarian in the past in order to secure a political advantage. Even though it might have played in her favor, Murkowski rejected the idea.

"I can't be somebody that I'm not," Murkowski said. "I can't now say, 'I want this job so much that I'm going to pretend to be somebody that I'm not.' That's not who I am."

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Sen. Murkowski roasted for opposing Trump's call to restore name of Mt. McKinley



Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska received a barrage of criticism online after "strongly" opposing the restoration of the former official name of North America's highest mountain, located in her state.

During his inaugural address on Monday, President Donald Trump made plain his desire to return to many American traditions and values. To that end, he repeatedly invoked the name of God and claimed the Almighty spared his life from the deadly Butler shooting "to make America great again."

Trump also reaffirmed biological reality in reiterating that "there are only two genders: male and female" and noted that "trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life" has destroyed the social fabric of our nation.

Additionally, Trump called for the towering Alaskan peak currently known as Denali to be referred to as Mt. McKinley once again. "We will restore the name of a great president, William McKinley, to Mt. McKinley, where it should be and where it belongs," Trump said.

"President McKinley made our country very rich through tariffs and through talent — he was a natural businessman," Trump added.

In 1896, a prospector first coined the name Mt. McKinley after then-presidential candidate McKinley — a Republican who was assassinated shortly into his second term — and the federal government officially adopted the name 21 years later.

The name Mt. McKinley stuck for nearly a century, until 2015, when the Department of Interior under then-President Barack Obama, changed it to Denali, the name used by past Athabascan natives.

"President McKinley never visited, nor did he have any significant historical connection to, the mountain or to Alaska," the DOI order stated.

'You’re deadnaming Mount McKinley.'

Sen. Murkowski, a Republican who often parts ways with the rest of her party, opposes restoring the name Mt. McKinley now that Trump is back in charge.

"You can’t improve upon the name that Alaska’s Koyukon Athabascans bestowed on North America’s tallest peak, Denali — the Great One," Murkowski said back in December. "For years, I advocated in Congress to restore the rightful name for this majestic mountain to respect Alaska’s first people who have lived on these lands for thousands of years. This is an issue that should not be relitigated."

Murkowski then reiterated her opposition to the McKinley name on social media on Monday.

"I strongly disagree with the President’s decision on Denali. Our nation’s tallest mountain, which has been called Denali for thousands of years, must continue to be known by the rightful name bestowed by Alaska’s Koyukon Athabascans, who have stewarded the land since time immemorial," she wrote.

Fellow X users then let her have it:

  • "We strongly don’t care," said anti-woke crusader Robby Starbuck.
  • "You’re deadnaming Mount McKinley," joked attorney Will Chamberlain. "That’s deeply offensive."
  • "How do you know it was called Denali for thousands of years?" one popular response astutely asked.
  • "You always side with democrats either change your ways or get primaried out!" added another.

Murkowski's frequent leftward lurches have made her very unpopular with conservatives across America and with MAGA supporters in particular. She voted to convict Trump after his second House impeachment in 2021 and declined to vote for him in the 2024 presidential election.

She even recently eschewed the Republican identity in general, claiming she would feel "more comfortable" having no party "label" instead.

"I'd rather be that 'no label,'" she said in December. "I'd rather be that person that is just known for trying to do right by the state and the people that I serve, regardless of party, and I'm totally good and comfortable with that."

In 2022, Trump endorsed her GOP challenger, Kelly Tshibaka. However, ranked-choice voting, instituted in Alaska in 2020 and approved by voters in November, has helped her keep her seat.

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Republicans take back Alaska's House seat, solidifying the GOP's slim majority



Republican candidate Nick Begich has officially unseated incumbent Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola for Alaska's sole House seat on Wednesday, boosting the GOP's narrow majority in the chamber.

Begich won with 51.3% of the vote, while Peltola brought in 48.7% of the vote. Peltola first flipped the seat in 2022 after Alaska introduced ranked-choice voting, which allows voters to rank their preferred candidates on the ballot rather than choose between the Democratic and Republican candidates who won their respective primaries.

'The path ahead will not be built by one person or three people working for all of Alaska but by all Alaskans working together to build a future that works for all of us.'

Going into the 2024 election, there were two Republican candidates up against the Democratic incumbent: Begich and Nancy Dahlstrom. Republicans were concerned that two GOP candidates would split the vote as they did in 2022, so Dahlstrom dropped out in August to avoid becoming a spoiler candidate.

"The Ranked Choice Voting tabulation has been completed and has confirmed our win beyond any residual doubt," Begich said in a Wednesday post on X. "I am truly honored to have earned your trust and support."

"Alaska's potential is unmatched, but much work remains for Alaskans to fully realize that potential," Begich continued. "I am committed to fighting for our jobs and economy, protecting our unique way of life, and ensuring that our voices are heard loud and clear in Washington."

Republicans now hold 219 seats, while Democrats hold 213. Although Republicans have the advantage, their margin has been narrowed due to President-elect Donald Trump's recent nominations that have included three Republican congressmen.

"The path ahead will not be built by one person or three people working for all of Alaska but by all Alaskans working together to build a future that works for all of us," Peltola said in a Wednesday post on X.

"Nick, I'm rooting for you," Peltola continued. "Please don't forget when DC people keep telling you that you are one of three, you are actually one of more than seven hundred thousand Alaskans who are ready to fight for our state, myself included."

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