Despite Vote, Libertarians Haven’t Ruled Out Murkowski
Although Alaska’s Libertarian Party has already voted against allowing GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski to run for another Senate term as the Libertarian candidate, discussions have occurred since then, the Anchorage Daily News reported Saturday.
Murkowski conceded the Aug. 24 GOP primary to challenger Joe Miller on Aug. 31, but she has not endorsed him. State election law only allows a candidate change if the party already has a candidate on the November ballot, meaning a Libertarian bid or a write-in campaign are Murkowski’s only options if she wants to stay in the race, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported Monday. The deadline to switch parties is Sept. 15.
“She has received a huge outpouring of support from Alaskans, both individuals and groups,” since the primary, Murkowski spokesman Steve Wackowski wrote to the Daily News-Miner on Sunday. He said the Senator was unavailable for comment.
Alaska Libertarian Party Chairman Scott Kohlhaas told the Anchorage Daily News that talks about a Murkowski bid are ongoing, despite the executive committee’s vote last month.