Alaska’s Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy is preparing to announce a 2028 Senate run against Sen. Lisa Murkowski — and it’s bad news for Murkowski and her so-called RINO (Republican In Name Only) friends.
Dunleavy has backing from President Donald Trump, setting up a major primary battle between a popular conservative governor and the pro-establishment senator who has repeatedly clashed with the MAGA movement.
“Trump has talked to him before about running and wants him to run,” a source close to Dunleavy told Fox News. Multiple sources confirmed that Dunleavy will not resign his governorship early to run for Senate, learning from the example of Sarah Palin who “never recovered” after quitting in 2009.
“He’s not going to quit his term,” a Dunleavy insider told Fox News. “Gov. Dunleavy has been not only a successful governor, but a pretty strong ally for him. So, it’s only natural that he’d be hearing that from Alaskans — but also from folks in the broader MAGA movement.”
“Obviously there are a lot of frustrations with Sen. Murkowski.”
Murkowski has become a frequent target of conservatives for her voting record and public statements distancing herself from the Republican Party. She told CNN last month that she doesn’t fit in the modern Republican Party because it’s become “more of a MAGA party.”
“I think you have seen that there is, I think, more room for me to work outside of the party,” Murkowski said.
“The Republican Party is a different party today than certainly when I registered to vote as a Republican at 18,” she said. “I think the Republican Party has changed. I think the Republican Party is more of a MAGA party, and I don’t fit well within those contours.”
Conservative activists have documented Murkowski’s breaks with the Republican Party, including voting with Barack Obama 72.3% of the time in 2013, supporting 12 of Joe Biden’s nominees when other Republicans opposed them, and backing funding for Planned Parenthood alongside Senator Susan Collins.
Murkowski also opposed Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation while supporting Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, and voted to convict Trump during his second impeachment trial.
“Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins just sided with the Democrats in an attempt to pass an amendment that would ensure federal funding to Planned Parenthood continued,” conservative commentator Gunther Eagleman posted on social media.
Dunleavy would present a different type of challenge than Murkowski has faced before. Polls show Dunleavy enjoys broad appeal in Alaska beyond conservative circles, including among Native communities who appreciate his focus on energy development and rural infrastructure.
“Murkowski has never faced a challenger like him,” a source said. “Conservatives would welcome an opportunity to unseat Murkowski. The fact that Trump and Murkowski have had such a strained relationship and Dunleavy and the president having a good relationship, is really what has led us to this point in the conversation.”
Alaska’s elections are subject to a ranked-choice voting system, which critics argue was designed to help establishment candidates like Murkowski. She successfully used the system after winning a write-in campaign in 2010 following her primary loss to Tea Party candidate Joe Miller.
A ranked-choice voting repeal failed in 2024 by less than 1,000 votes after being outspent nearly ten-to-one by outside money. Another repeal effort is expected in 2026.
Recent polling shows Murkowski facing declining support across key demographics. Her approval among moderates dropped 26 points from April to August, while her support among progressives plummeted 75 points from +54 to -21. Conservatives continue to disapprove of her by a 64-point margin.
Murkowski inherited her Senate seat from her father, Governor Frank Murkowski, who appointed her to his former position in 2002. Critics have referred to her as “Princess Lisa” and characterized the appointment as passing down a “feudal title.”
Conservative social media has rallied behind the potential Dunleavy candidacy.
“Trump won Alaska by 13 points. Murkowski’s seat needs to be taken by someone who isn’t always at-odds with MAGA,” posted Eric Daugherty.
The 2028 race is expected to be closely watched as a test of Trump’s influence and the MAGA movement’s ability to defeat RINOs who have opposed the former president.