U.S. President Donald Trump smiles as he attends an event to announce that Space Force Command will move from Colorado to Alabama, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 2, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder REFILE - QUALITY REPEAT
In yet another sign that Republicans have become disillusioned with operating in a Congress under GOP control, longtime Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is reportedly toying with the idea of leaving to run for governor of Alaska.
According to Puck News' Leigh Ann Caldwell, who reported Murkowski had been thinking about this a month before, the senator told her this week, "I have not ruled it out."
She added that she has the "luxury" of mulling over her next move for "months."
Caldwell has previously reported that Murkowski, who has long held a reputation for bucking her party on particularly hot-button issues, feels afraid of retaliation by the Trump White House.
Murkowski also faced heavy criticism after she cast a deciding vote to advance Trump's tax cut megabill, slashing around $1 trillion from Medicaid, in exchange for carveouts for her state.
If Murkowski decides to run for governor, she would join the ranks of a number of recent Republican senators from all wings of the party who are preparing to leave office, like Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Joni Ernst (R-IA).
A number of House lawmakers are heading for the exits too, with one of the most recent announcements being Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX).