Understanding Murkowski’s vote requires context

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks at an Aug. 4, 2025, news conference in her Anchorage office. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

By Rodger Painter

While some Alaskans are disappointed that Sen. Lisa Murkowski voted for the Big Ugly Bill, she is an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump and one of very few moderate Republicans left in the Senate. Her departure from Washington would be devastating for the entire USA.

As a moderate Democrat I understand the anger and disappointment about her vote, but Alaskans need to put it in context. Republicans were ready to flip holdout libertarian Sen. Rand Paul by making more cuts to vital programs. Murkowski did score some modest wins for Alaska, but she recognized she couldn’t get any more, and continuing to say no would only result in further damage to Alaska and the country.

At 78, I have closely followed Alaska and national politics since high school, and I followed her actions since she was in the state Legislature, when she pushed through a tax on alcohol, despite strong opposition from many corners. When she was appointed to the U.S. Senate, I was skeptical like many, but when she appeared before my group of Alaska shellfish growers during her amazing write-in run for reelection to the U.S, Senate, I introduced her as Sen. Lisa M-U-R-K-O-W-S-K-I; my compatriots gave her a standing ovation.

While Murkowski doesn’t have the power of the purse that Sen. Ted Stevens had during his long career, she has been very influential in bringing federal dollars to Alaska. Reaching across the political aisle during the Biden administration, she brought home hundreds of million dollars for Alaska projects. Unfortunately, the Trump administration pulled back many of those projects.

As an Alaska Native descendant, I am particularly impressed by her attention to the plight of rural Alaskans. I have worked closely with Native groups from Ketchikan to the Aleutians to create new economic opportunities. Climate change has hit rural Alaska very hard.

I certainly don’t approve of many of Murkowski’s positions, such as logging in the Tongass National Forest, the Ambler Road, drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, mine after mine, and oil wells in wilderness areas. As a pragmatist, I understand why her position in the Senate benefits Alaska and our troubled nation.

• Rodger Painter is a former journalist, legislative staffer and longtime leader in the Alaska seafood industry. He is retired and lives in Douglas. Alaska Beacon is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.