The Senate Doesn't Come Down to Montana. A Party-Switch by Lisa Murkowski Should Not Be Ruled Out and Dems Would Be Foolish Not to Welcome Her.
If the Kamala Harris wins the presidency but the Democrats lose the Senate on election night, 51-49, it should not be ruled out that Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska might leave the Republican Party and caucus with Democrats.
That would bring the Senate back to 50-50 and give the Dems control with Vice President Tim Walz.
Murkowski called for Trump's resignation after the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, stating "if the Republican Party has become nothing more than the party of Trump, I sincerely question whether this is the party for me."
She would then vote to convict Donald Trump in the January 2021 impeachment vote and refused to support him in the 2024 GOP presidential primary. Presidential polling is scant in Alaska because it is taken for granted that the Republicans will win the state, but Trump is not popular in the state and a recent poll had Harris within the margin of error.
Murkowski is Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. She would no doubt push for more oil drilling in Alaska if the deal for giving the Dems the majority is giving her Chair of the committee, something the environmentalists won't like. She would be targeted by the MAGAs for defeat if she choses to run for re-election in 2028 when she will be 71. But if Harris were to win re-election a Cabinet post could be in consideration.
The other possible Senate party-switch could be Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. But whereas Murkowski voted "present" for the Brett Kavanugh Supreme Court confirmation vote, Collins voted "yeah."
Once the election results are in, if Harris wins and control of the Senate rests with Murkowski, the Dems would be foolish not to reach out a hand and welcome her into the caucus.
That would bring the Senate back to 50-50 and give the Dems control with Vice President Tim Walz.
Murkowski called for Trump's resignation after the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, stating "if the Republican Party has become nothing more than the party of Trump, I sincerely question whether this is the party for me."
She would then vote to convict Donald Trump in the January 2021 impeachment vote and refused to support him in the 2024 GOP presidential primary. Presidential polling is scant in Alaska because it is taken for granted that the Republicans will win the state, but Trump is not popular in the state and a recent poll had Harris within the margin of error.
Murkowski is Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. She would no doubt push for more oil drilling in Alaska if the deal for giving the Dems the majority is giving her Chair of the committee, something the environmentalists won't like. She would be targeted by the MAGAs for defeat if she choses to run for re-election in 2028 when she will be 71. But if Harris were to win re-election a Cabinet post could be in consideration.
The other possible Senate party-switch could be Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. But whereas Murkowski voted "present" for the Brett Kavanugh Supreme Court confirmation vote, Collins voted "yeah."
Once the election results are in, if Harris wins and control of the Senate rests with Murkowski, the Dems would be foolish not to reach out a hand and welcome her into the caucus.
36-40, F
