Murkowski Faces Tibaka and Chesbro in Alaska Senate Debate

Juneau, Alaska – Republican Sen. Lisa Markowski said Alaskans were not “partisan and political rhetoric” when she confronted Donald Trump-backed Republican rival Kelly Tzibaka in a televised debate on Thursday. Instead, he said he wanted results. change.

Murkowski said, “You can’t do in the next six years what you haven’t done in the last 21 years,” Tshibaka said.

Murkowski, who has held the seat since late 2002 and is the oldest member of the Alaska Congressional delegation, said the race was about “who can serve Alaska the most.” Murkowski pointed out and defended her record.

The debate, held two weeks before the Nov. 8 ranked-choice election, also included Democrat Pat Chesbro, who is well behind Murkowski and Tshibaka in fundraising. Republican Baz Kelly, who finished fourth in August’s primary, suspended his campaign last month to endorse Mr. Chibaka.

Trump traveled to Alaska in July to attend a rally with Chibaka and Republican Sarah Palin, and Trump, who supports the congressman, joined Chibaka’s call earlier this week. He called Murkowski “one of the worst senators imaginable”. He criticized her for voting for her “insane impeachment” and for opposing Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination of her to the United States Supreme Court.

Mr. Murkowski, who has a reputation as a centrist, was criticized last year by state Republican leaders for his criticism of Mr. Trump and his conviction in the second impeachment trial last year. he was acquitted.

State party leaders supported Chibaka’s campaign.

Murkowski has been a lifelong registered Republican, but has said he does not “pledge allegiance to any particular party.” She emphasized her willingness to work outside her political party, using the tag “I will always stand for Alaska” in her campaign ads.

Murkowski recently said that Democrat Mary Peltola would lead Alaska’s only House race, but Tshibaka criticized the decision.

Peltra, who won an August special election for the seat held by Republican Rep. Don Young for 49 years, served in the state legislature alongside Markowski. Peltola said he would rank Murkowski his No. 1 in his poll as well.

Broad discussions touched on topics such as the Arctic, the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and protecting young people from gun violence.

Murkowski defended the bipartisan law passed earlier this year, saying it would help address school safety and mental health resources. The measure also “ensures we can provide Second Amendment protections while making sure people who shouldn’t own guns don’t own them,” she said.

Under the bill, funds would go to help states implement so-called red flag laws that help authorities temporarily take guns away from people they see as a threat, as well as other state violence prevention programs. Funding will be provided for When the bill passed, Murkowski’s office labeled any suggestion that the bill would “force” states without red flag laws to adopt it a myth.

Tshibaka’s campaign says red flag laws “could be abused.” She said Thursday she wouldn’t have voted for a bill she called “extreme.” She wants to see more funding for schools and mental health counselors.

Former educator Chesbro suggested gun owners consider ways to make sure their guns are locked.

Chesboro asked Murkowski during the debate how he would change the approach to confirming U.S. Supreme Court justices, and that Murkowski voted to confirm the judge who overturned Roe v. Wade earlier this year. pointed out.

Murkowski has expressed support for restricted Roe and abortion rights.

Murkowski called the confirmation process “a failure. We don’t evaluate candidates based on their abilities, qualifications, temperament and independence. We evaluate them based on what the president has appointed.” .

She said she takes the evaluation process seriously. “We have to get back to actually evaluating the criteria, the qualifications of these candidates,” Murkowski said.

Chesbro, an abortion rights advocate, said, “The country’s Supreme Court should be the fairest, most credible court in the country.” She said she was concerned that the court was “imbalanced.”

Chibaka said, “I support the constitutionalist candidate for the Supreme Court regardless of which president appoints him. I think the process will be fine.”