Murkowski backs Haley in GOP primary

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced Friday that she is endorsing former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley in the Republican presidential primary against former President Trump.

“I am proud to support Governor Nikki Haley,” Murkowski said in a statement.

“America needs someone with the right values, energy, and judgment as its next president, and there is no one better to lead this campaign than her,” she continued. “Nicki will be a strong leader and champion of Republican ideals as a president for all Americans.”

Murkowski is the first Republican senator to endorse Haley and is one of seven people who voted to convict Trump for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He was one of the Republican senators. However, Trump was ultimately not convicted by the Senate.

The former president called Mukovsky a “RINO,” an acronym for “Republican in Name Only,” and endorsed his opponent in the primary in the November 2022 midterm elections following his conviction. “She’s worse than the Democrats,” he said.

But the Alaska Republican survived a challenge from Trump-backed Kelly Tshibaka that election cycle.

Haley said in a statement that she was “grateful” to have Murkowski’s support.

“Sen. Murkowski is Alaska’s best representative,” Haley wrote, adding, “She is a trailblazer and has a strong independent voice who does not bow to the power of Washington.”

“As president, I will fight to make Alaskans and all Americans proud by restoring fiscal health, energy dominance, and limited government,” she said. .

Murkowski’s endorsement comes days before Super Tuesday, when Alaska and several other states, along with American Samoa, vote in the Republican presidential primary.

Ms. Haley faces a steep road to winning the Republican nomination, having lost all early nomination contests in which she competed with Mr. Trump on the same ticket.

But Haley has energized the anti-Trump wing of the Republican Party and vowed to continue her work.

Updated at 4:40 p.m.