Trump Says He Endorses Alaska Governor – But Only If Gov. Refuses to Support Lisa Murkowski’s Reelection Bid

Mediaite.com ^ | 12/28/21 | Michael Luciano

[cotton1706]

In one of his more blatant attempts to impose his will on a Republican politician, Donald Trump endorsed Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) for reelection in 2022 on the condition that he will not support Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s (R-AK) reelection bid next year.

Dunleavy is facing a primary challenge from state Rep. Christopher Kurka.

[spacejunkie2001]

this isn’t what we’re discussing. it’s trump endorsing the GOVERNOR but only if he doesn’t endorse murkowski

[Sacajaweau]

Kelly left the governor’s administration to run for the Senate. Of course he’s gonna endorse Kelly. Trump just threw in that line to make folks pay attention.

[AndyJackson]

attempts to impose his will on a Republican politician

You mean imposing the will of the rank and file on a bunch of corrupt renegade backstabbing RINOs who prefer losing to democrats than supporting the well-being of their supporters.

[spacejunkie2001]

apples oranges

[Republican Wildcat]

In 2010 (11 years ago), Murkowski was successfully challenged in the primary by Joe Miller. Santorum did not "rescue" her in that primary - she did indeed lose to Miller. She then chose to run as a Republican write-in candidate and won, partially by heavily courting Democrat voters (The Dem nominee only got 23% of the vote) and the Republican vote split between her and Miller. Miller ran a particularly awful general election campaign - Miller pretty much only had air support from the NRSC. He threw a temper tantrum which was recorded which made for juicy campaign ad spots for Murkowski and her allies to try to paint him as nuts, had his security handcuff a reporter at a middle school, etc. Those kinds of public incidents are not a recipe for electoral success. The tea party organizations which prominently supported him in the primary all but abandoned the race for the general election.

She has never won with anything other than a plurality of the votes. Given she was able to win once without even being on the ballot, I am not optimistic she could be defeated in this jungle primary system, which seems to have been created to effectively protect her from being primaried. She will run as the "second choice candidate" or even the "third choice candidate" and probably be able to pull this out. That's the strategy she can map out. The overwhelming majority could vote against her and she could still win decisively with this ranked choice voting system. It is rigged in her favor.

[Chode]

the Art of the Deal...

[Nextrush]

That ranked choice system used by the Democrats in New York to elect the Establishment guy Eric Adams in their mayoral primary.

In Australia the ranked choice system used in general elections.

For the lower house seats all votes get whittled down to the last preferences so the third party voters last preferences are major party candidates they don’t want.

In Australia’s Senate this ranked choice system enables some third parties to win a few seats since the voters are voting for a group of seats in each Australian state as opposed to a single person for a single seat.

[Caipirabob]

HA! Love, just love this guy!

[StAnDeliver]

Wow, a stalking horse for Palin For Senate. That would be incredible.

[nbenyo]

Alaska voted in favor of Ranked Choice Voting, which gives Murkowski a huge advantage.

Alaska is no longer an overwhelmingly GOP state, as Biden carried Anchorage, Juneau, Sitka and the Native areas.

[FrankRizzo890]

Exactly right.

[Theodore R.]

Remember, when Alaska became a state in 1959, it was thought it would be Democrat in orientation. When HI joined the Union in 1960, it was projected to be Republican. Neither was of course true.

[ZULU]

GOOD

[bramps]

I would like to know if Trump’s endorsement changes if the guy comes out and says that the vaccines are poison crap.

Or if he, unlike Trump, speaks with passion and righteous anger towards mandates and about our freedom being taken way.

[kiryandil]

Sounds like Michael Luciano needs his fainting couch...

[FLT-bird]

You’re either on the team or you’re not. Anybody who endorses or supports RINOs like Murkowski is not.

[Maris Crane]

I love it!

It’s about time we had a strong response.

I suppose Senator Thune will be sucking his thumb while rocking back and forth.

[sauropod]

Burka burka Kurka.

[SunkenCiv]

Panic Porn from one of Mediaite's Partisan Media Shills and Stooges.