Murkowski backs Haley in GOP primary
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced Friday that she was endorsing former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley in the GOP presidential primary against former President Trump.
“I'm proud to endorse Gov. Nikki Haley,” Murkowski said in a statement.
“America needs someone with the right values, vigor, and judgment to serve as our next President—and in this race, there is no one better than her," she continued. "Nikki will be a strong leader and uphold the ideals of the Republican Party while serving as a President for all Americans."
Murkowski, the first GOP senator to endorse Haley in the race, was among seven Republican senators to vote to convict Trump for his alleged role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
The Alaska Republican survived a challenge on her right from Trump-backed contender Kelly Tshibaka during the November 2022 midterms.
Haley said in her own statement that she was "grateful" to have the senator's endorsement.
"Sen. Murkowski represents the best of Alaska," Haley wrote, adding that "she is a trailblazer and a strong, independent voice who doesn’t bow down to the powers that be in Washington."
"As president, I will fight to make Alaskans—and all Americans—proud by restoring fiscal sanity, energy dominance, and limited government," she said.