Murkowski announces reelection bid opposed by Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who voted to convict Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial and has repeatedly bumped heads with former president, anunced Friday that she will run for reelection.

Trump, who has focused his political efforts on punishing his political opponents, endorsed a leading opponent of Murkowski in June. Kelly Tshibaka was commissioner of Alaska's Department of Administration before resigning to run for Senate. In July, Alaska Republican State Central Committee endorsed Tshibaka after Murkowski's impeachment vote.

“My heart is, and always has been, in Alaska, and that’s why I am proud to anunce my campaign for reelection to US Senate in 2022,” Murkowski said in a statement. She emphasized that she has always made Alaska, its industries and its people her top priority.

Murkowski reelection bid will be closely watched nationally as Trump seeks to bring down a senator whose name has a rich political history in state. Her far, Frank Murkowski, was a former goverr and a longtime U.S. senator.

Murkowski has been in U.S. Senate since 2002, when her far selected her to finish his unexpired term after he was elected goverr. A Murkowski has represented Alaska in U.S. Senate since 1981.

She has bucked Republican Party before. Murkowski lost her 2010 GOP primary, but went on to win general election with a write-in campaign against a conservative Republican candidate.

Murkowski, often seen as an independent-minded moderate, was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump, who was acquitted of sole charge of incitement of insurrection related to Jan. 6 riot at U.S. Capitol. She is only one of seven to face reelection this year.

Murkowski was censured by Alaska Republican Party in March for her vote to convict Trump during his second impeachment trial. But National Republican Senatorial Committee endorsed Murkowski, placing its bet on a resilient incumbent.

Tshibaka has tried to take advant of Trump's popularity in state, getting backing from his allies and voicing Trump positions, including promotion of his false ories of voter fraud in 2020 election.