The Republicans just won control of the U.S. Senate. That’s all being thrown up in the air.
Because this top United States Senator just dropped a bombshell about switching parties.
The Republicans will soon regain control of the U.S. Senate chamber as the new congress will cement a 53-seat majority over the Democrats’ 47. This is certainly good news for Donald Trump to be able to confirm his nominees throughout his cabinet and his future judicial nominees as well. Though, there’s a chink in the armor for the Republicans in Congress.
One U.S. Senator is reportedly considering switching sides, potentially removing the Republican Party affiliation entirely. That U.S. Senator is none other than Lisa Murkowski from Alaska. She’s held the seat for more than two decades since the year 2002, not indicating she wants to give it up anytime soon. Though she may be in tow for a major political realignment.
Senator Lisa Murkowski expressed a growing discomfort with party labels during a discussion hosted by the centrist group No Labels at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington on Thursday. The Alaska senator, known for occasionally defying her party, said she felt “more comfortable” without an official party affiliation than identifying as a Republican.
“I’m not attached to a label, I’d rather be that ‘no label,’” Murkowski explained. “I’d rather be that person that is just known for trying to do right by the state and the people that I serve, regardless of party, and I’m totally good and comfortable with that.”
Murkowski, who has served as a Republican senator from Alaska since 2003, clarified later in the discussion that she is “still a Republican” and has “never shed my party label.” She noted the practical reality of the Senate’s structure: “We’ve got a system in the Senate where there are two sides of the aisle, and I have to sit on one side or I have to sit on the other.”
JUST IN: Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announces she feels "more comfortable" being labeled as "no party" rather than a Republican – POLITICO
“I'm not attached to a label, I'd rather be that ‘no label.’ I'd rather be that person that is just known for trying to do right by the… pic.twitter.com/LWGrsPXapm
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 12, 2024
The senator’s comments come as the Senate prepares for a series of confirmation battles regarding President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees. Murkowski has become a key figure in these battles, with her occasional criticisms of the Republican Party and her willingness to stand up to Trump. She has previously expressed that her political leanings align more with the values of former President Ronald Reagan than with those of Trump.
“I don’t think I’ve made any secret of the fact that I’m more of a Ronald Reagan Republican than I am a Trump Republican,” she remarked on Thursday. When asked whether she still considered herself a Republican, Murkowski responded, “You can call me whatever you want to call me.”
Murkowski’s stance on party affiliation and independence has positioned her as one of the most prominent Republicans who might oppose some of Trump’s more contentious Cabinet picks. Along with Senator Susan Collins of Maine, Murkowski is seen as a potential ally for Democrats seeking to block nominations they view as problematic.
The senator also predicted that the next four years could prove challenging, given the Trump administration’s tendency to demand loyalty from lawmakers. “It’s going to be hard in these next four years,” Murkowski said. “The Trump administration’s approach is going to be: Everybody tow the line. Everybody line up. We got you here, and if you want to survive, you better be good. Don’t get on Santa’s naughty list here, because we will primary you.”
Murkowski pointed to Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa as an example of the pressure on Republican lawmakers. Despite being seen as one of the more conservative and principled Republican leaders in the Senate, Ernst is facing criticism from her party for not being “good enough.” Murkowski expressed concern that Ernst might face a primary challenge for not aligning with the more extreme elements of the Republican Party.
Some conservatives and Right-side commentators are suggesting that shedding weak conservatives and Republicans in Congress is the way forward to a more effective Republican Party that won’t have constant infighting between Trump-aligned conservatives and the more Bush-era neoconservatives.
No more games👇 pic.twitter.com/XkIKqi4F19
— John Rich🇺🇸 (@johnrich) December 12, 2024
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