A curious change in Alaska’s official voter registration database has sparked questions about the party affiliation of US Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who has long had a complicated relationship with the Republican Party.
The confusion began when Alaska Public Media reporter Wesley Early tweeted a screenshot showing that Murkowski was registered as “Undeclared” in the Alaska voter registration system.
He later deleted the tweet after a staffer from Murkowski’s office contacted him, saying the senator was unaware of the change and insisted she is still a registered Republican.
But when contacted by this publication, the Alaska Division of Elections confirmed that Murkowski is, in fact, listed as “Undeclared” in their system, just as it was when the reporter accessed the information. Division officials acknowledged the discrepancy but could not provide an immediate explanation for how it was changed.
Update: Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher issued a statement: “The Division of Elections was notified on Thursday afternoon that the voter affiliation for Senator Lisa Murkowski was listed as ‘undeclared’. Upon further review, it was determined this was the result of a data entry error by a temporary worker in the August 2024 primary when the affiliation was left blank on her absentee ballot, and the worker mistakenly listed the Senator as undeclared instead of leaving her correct affiliation of Republican. The error has been corrected.”
There’s no record showing a party affiliation change, one official told us. When individuals apply for the Permanent Fund Dividend, their voter registration status is updated based on selections made during the PFD application process. But no such data shows that such a change was made.
State officials confirmed they are looking into the matter to determine how the change may have occurred, but as of Wednesday, they were just learning about the matter.
The incident has raised eyebrows, particularly given Murkowski’s increasingly strained standing within the Republican Party. She was censured by the Alaska Republican Party in 2021 following her vote to convict former President Donald Trump during his second impeachment trial and has faced criticism from the party’s main flank ever since.
Murkowski just launched her new book, “Far From Home,” a political memoir of her rise in politics. She has been interviewed widely in the media as part of the book launch, and will not rule out leaving the Republican Party and caucusing with Democrats.
The Division of Elections says it will investigate the situation to understand whether the change was due to a system error, a PFD-linked update, or another cause.
Until then, the episode remains another moment of political ambiguity for Alaska’s senior senator.
This is actually very funny
Lisa Murkowski is a very mixed-up person, in a very confused state of mind. She doesn’t know if she is a Republican, Democrat, Independent. Is she a woman or a man? Is she an Alaskan, or a swamp creature of the federal government? Her own parents must be agitated beyond belief at what they foisted on Alaska. But how do we get rid of Lisa Murkowski?
Lisa really doesn’t know who she is or what she stands for. In other words, she has no compass. Her dad appointed her and provided her with no real direction. That’s why she is such a mess. Republicans don’t want her and Democrats only use her. She is a lost sole, and in a very lonely world by herself. She even looks that part; frail, wrinkled, and withering away with bug-eyed
turmoil at every decision.
And I’m the king of Neptune.
Just own it, Princess.
But then you wouldn’t be in a position to sell yourself to the highest bidder, would you?
Princess gives ladies of the night a bad name.
Undeclared Democrat is what she is, maybe that was her confusion when it came to update her registration?
Murkowski will be anything you want, papi if the money’s right.
I know she doesn’t support the Republican Party my confusion is why the AKGOP supports her?
They don’t. They expelled her from the party a long time ago. She cannot officially run as a Republican in Alaska. She does not have the support of the Alaska GOP. She is a Republican only in her own mind.
To corrupt the line from the German butler in Castle Gruenwald in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: “If Lisa Murkowski is a Republican, then I’m Micky Mouse.”
Just tell the truth already.
Well her staff can all go to hell. She is an extreme left wing lunatic and a baby killer. She isn’t mentally fit to work at Burger King. She is everything bad in a politician.
Her staff was just confused.
Princess Lisa is actually registered as “unprincipled”.
How about “Unfit?”
BS she’s not a republican!
There’s no “political ambiguity” with Murkowski. Beavis and Butthead’s mother is a RINO.
Hey Governor Dunleavy, here’s one for you…Maybe it’s time for Nancy Dahlstrom and Carol Beecher to step up to the podium and take ownership—preferably in front of cameras—for yet another spectacular failure in how Alaska’s elections are being handled. They oversee the entire process, yet it’s been one embarrassing debacle after another. Whoever’s running the Elections Division should take the heat instead of pinning this mess on some “temporary clerk.” Honestly, who’s lining up for that gig anyway? The pay’s pitiful, the benefits are nonexistent, and clearly, the State treats the position like an afterthought.
And let’s get real: how is anyone supposed to protect the integrity of our elections when they’re tossed into the job with training that feels more like a crash course in chaos management? If this is what passes for preparation, no wonder we’re in this mess. And now Nancy wants to be Governor? If this is the resume she’s running on, Alaska better buckle up. At this rate, her campaign slogan might as well be: “If you liked the election train wreck, you’re going to love the sequel.”
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Turn this around on the republicans, right. I knew you democrats would come up with some stupid thing to say. It’s all Lisa murkowski. She is not right in the head.
The Princess will do what she needs to do cling to power. She will wear the republican label like a skin suit and deny the electorate of Alaska an authentic representative. She will con who she needs to without a second thought. That senate seat is hers and the plebs can take a long walk on a short pier.
Next time there is a 50-50 split in the senate she will become an independent and caucus with the D’s. Maybe it will happen in 2026 she thinks as her dull eyes gleam…
Remember this; Lisa is so dishonest she can’t even give a straight answer to “what is your party?”
The number of different answers equals the number of different people asking the same question.
She’s a political Chameleon, and much worse. We need to Groom One Person to take her place, and support them with all we got.
Chameleon, or the other reptile, a snake??
Alaska has been sending political representatives to Washington that spend their time becoming experts at sucking in money for Alaska with no concern for morality or anything but getting the money, One has to wonder how much of that money (or other money and favors, stock tips, contract awards to their companies, etc.) makes its way to their coffers. Maybe this worked for Alaska until now but times are different now. This Nation is collapsing under the Communist/Demoncrat/Republicrat government that pretends to represent us. Lisa is just so obvious because these fakes can’t hide their traitorous behavior anymore. Let’s stop sending the Old Family Names to Juneau and Washington. They represent their dynasties – NOT the foolish people that fall for their BS, Oh That’s Right! WE CAN’T because THEY told us we voted for RANK CHOICE VOTING!!!!!
She’s a DEMOCRAT! Pure and simple! Her staff needs to stop this! Her voting record shows it!
Every time I see an image of her, unsightly as it is, I am given to thinking ‘where is the truth?’
Like an independent they always vote democrat.
Voting moderate is fine and expected, however voting against the party that put you in, time after time on issues that are sane, is hard to explain. Her reasoning behind her votes does not make sense. Senator Murkowski’s voting on the 20% majority of an issue, instead of the 80% of the population on an issue continually is not acceptable if she is a Republican. She is not voting for the majority of the people she is elected to vote for. I do not want a politician representing me that votes by his or her conscience on a bill instead of for the majority of what the people want on a bill.
She’s a RINO. Her voting record reflects a 95% Democrat voter. She only votes Republican when it really doesn’t matter. Because of this fact she needs to run as a Democrat. To think that she is a Republican is delusional. Come on Alaskan conservatives, let’s vote someone else in that has conservative values, and will show that by voting with the Republicans on all issues. Including supporting our Republican President in passing all of the legislation supported by him. Respectfully if she’s unwilling to run as the Democrat that she is, then she should retire.
Rank Choice Voting should be done away with. It keeps the democrats and RINO’s in Alaska, in power.
The Legislature should keep their hands off the dividend fund, and stop using it to fund their political activities, and ambition’s. Screwing Alaskans every year by only allowing a partial payout is stealing from the Alaskan residents. Legislature project funding is not the intended purpose of the fund. They should be ashamed. Bad behavior like this should have consequences, vote them out!
Lisa would not have “risen” in politics if she was not appointed by her father. Since then, she has been a stain on the Republican name.
Thanks for the photo.
She has those Adam Shiffty eyes and it fits explanation of “How she got caught up in that pesky salmon dip net”.
Alaska’s Sandhill crane Sen doesn’t know what she is? Is anyone surprised.
“Alaska’s Sandhill Crane Senator”
LOL!
That’s gold, Jerry, gold!
(And totally appropriate, too, as sandhill cranes spend a great deal of time in swamps.)
I wouldn’t doubt that it’s just another Division of Elections SNAFU. Nancy Dahlstrom is absolutely the worst Lieutenant Governor, she can’t run anything close to a clean election, and she’s an even worse candidate. Look at her dismal performance against Nick, and that almost cost us our congressional seat again! Can you imagine if that Ditz Peltola stayed in? It was a squeaker for Nick. Ugh, and all due to Nancy. And now she wants to be Governor? We need someone for GOP who can actually win. Treg Taylor, AG, gets things done, like his work on the gas line. Somebody convince him to run and tell Mike D to support him instead of loser Nancy.
Is it legal to be registered as a voter in one party, and run for office as another?
(Yeah, obviously, it isn’t moral, but we’re talking about Lisa here, so that’s already a given……..)
It is legal to file as a different party than one is previously affiliated with, but filing with a party is considered a declaration of current affiliation and one’s voter registration records will be updated to reflect this new affiliation. Immediately after the election (or maybe during the election) one can change their affiliation back to the prior party.
Alternatively, one who is affiliated with a party can run as “non-partisan” or “undeclared” without changing their affiliation. Practically, I’m not sure what DoE does in that case, but statute allows it.
Fred,
Everyone else here is talking about Lisa Murkowski. Save Nancy Dahlstrom for another day. You’ll have plenty of time to go after her.
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ps.
The next governor’s name is Wilson. As in Bernadette. Wally Hickel’s grand niece.
We need a do over with 3/4 of the politicians in Washington DC. Our system was not designed for career politicians. Even whidbey the snake should agree with that.
.and she blames it on operator error…