Lisa Murkowski

Republican Lisa Murkowski was appointed to her seat in the US Senate by her father, Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski, in 2002. Involved in education and health care initiatives, she was also vocal on economic and environmental issues that affected her home state of Alaska. In 2010, Murkowski was reelected to the US Senate by a write-in vote. She became the first candidate in over fifty-five years to be reelected despite not being formally listed on the ballot. Murkowski was reelected in 2016 and 2022.

Early Life

One of six children born to Frank and Nancy Murkowski, Lisa was born in 1957 in Ketchikan, Alaska. Her family moved to Fairbanks, where Murkowski attended local public schools. After graduating from Georgetown University in 1980 with a degree in economics, she earned a law degree from Willamette School of Law in Salem, Oregon.

As a member of a politically active family, Murkowski remembers political conversations as part of the dinnertime ritual. From an early age, she was involved in her father's campaigns (he represented Alaska in the U.S. Senate for twenty years). Murkowski has also been active in Republican political organizations, including the Anchorage Republican Women's Club and the Alaska Federation of Republican Women. She has also been a member of the state Republican Central Committee.

Senator Murkowski and her husband, Verne Martell, live in Anchorage, Alaska, and have two children.

Political Career

During the late 1980s, Murkowski served as the district attorney in Anchorage and worked in private practice from 1989 through 1996. She launched her own political career in 1999, with her election to the Alaska House of Representatives. During her tenure as a state legislator, Murkowski addressed various of social issues, including education, labor, and homelessness. She was reelected for a third time in 2002 but was chosen by her father to serve out his unfinished term in the U.S. Senate. On December 20, 2002, she was sworn in as Alaska's newest Senator, only the 33rd woman ever to serve in the Senate.

Political Agenda

Soon after taking office, the freshman Senator observed that the Senate was not an accomodating place for women, remarking on the relatively small size of the women's restroom and other features of the facility that she found uncomfortable. In her first term, Murkowski served on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and chaired the Subcommittee on Water and Power. She was also a member of the Committee for Environment and Public Works, the Veterans Affairs Committee, and the Indian Affairs Committee.

Senator Murkowski stated that her first priority was promoting the economic development of Alaska, and she hoped to increase the production of natural gas and oil in the state. In 2003, she co-sponsored a bill to stop the shutdown of the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline while reauthorization was being considered in Congress. Murkowski sought funding to improve the transportation system in the state in order to stimulate economic activity.

One of the major issues addressed by Senator Murkowski was the debate surrounding oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). In March 2003, the Senate voted to prohibit drilling on the grounds that it would have a detrimental effect on wildlife and environment. Murkowski supported the Bush administration's effort to allow drilling, stating that the government had taken protective steps to ensure that the environment won't suffer. Proponents of the plan stated that the millions of barrels of oil available and the jobs that ANWR drilling will generate are important to American industry and security. The Senator labeled those who have lobbied against the effort as "anti-Alaskan."

Legislation

Murkowski successfully exempted Alaska from new regulations requiring states to use ethanol in gasoline in order to meet clean air standards.

Alaskan salmon fishermen suffered significant market losses due to competition with farm-raised salmon. Senator Murkowski secured funds to assist the fishermen, and has also suggested legislation that will change labeling requirements. Alaskan wild-caught salmon can now be labeled as "organic," a designation that will increase its value to health-conscious Americans, thereby increasing sales for fishermen.

Senator Murkowski was also a co-sponsor of the Amber Alert bill, passed in 2003. This legislation provided a nationwide system designed to quickly inform officials and the public when a child has been abducted.

Murkowski was reelected to the Senate in 2004. She was a ranking member of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. In addition, she served on the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Senator Murkowski was involved in a controversy regarding a land deal in July 2007. The Anchorage Daily News reported that a land transaction between Murkowski and a businessman in Anchorage amounted to an illegal gift. The controversy subsided when Murkowski agreed to sell the land.

Murkowski again sought reelection to the Senate in 2010. However, following a close Republican Primary election against challenger Joe Miller, she conceded defeat in the primary and decided to remain in the election as a write-in candidate. Although it was clear early that Democratic Party candidate Scott McAdams would not win the election, the contest between Murkowski and Miller was close. After two weeks of vote counting, Murkowski declared victory on November 18, 2010, becoming the first senate candidate to be elected to office on write-in votes since 1954. In a victory speech to supporters, she described her successful writing candidacy as a "miracle."

Murkowski defeated Miller again in the 2016 election, and she defeated Kelly Tshibaka in a close election 2022 to be reelected to her fourth term as an Alaskan Senator. In her fourth term Murkowski served as Vice Chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. Murkowski also served on the Committees on Appropriations, Energy and Natural Resources, and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Bibliography

"About Lisa." Lisa Murkowski for Senate, 2023, lisamurkowski.com/about-lisa/. Accessed 5 Apr. 2023.

"Issues." Lisa Murkowski for Senate, 2023, lisamurkowski.com/issues/. Accessed 5 Apr. 2023.

By Terri McFadden