While speaking at an event for the No Labels political organization Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Ak.) raised eyebrows when she said she is not “attached to a label” when it comes to partisan affiliation.
Politico called Murkowski’s comments an “escalation of the Alaska senator’s occasional bucking of her party as the chamber readies itself for a slew of confirmation battles over Trump administration nominees.”
“I’m not attached to a label, I’d rather be that ‘no label.’ I’d rather be that person that is just known for trying to do right by the state and the people that I serve, regardless of party, and I’m totally good and comfortable with that,” Murkowski said at the event.
During her remarks, she also made clear that she is still indeed a Republican and “never shed my party label.”
Murkowski won her last election as a write-in candidate after losing the Republican primary after Donald Trump endorsed her opponent. Murkowski, who has served in the Senate since 2003, voted to impeach Trump over his actions on Jan. 6th and has remained a critic.
“We’ve got a system in the Senate where there are two sides of the aisle, and I have to sit on one side or I have to sit on the other,” Murkowski added of her remaining with the GOP.
“I don’t think I’ve made any secret of the fact that I’m more of a Ronald Reagan Republican than I am a Trump Republican. And someone said, ‘Well, you aren’t really a Republican at all.’ And I said, ‘You can call me whatever you want to call me,’” she added.
Murkowski also weighed in briefly on Trump’s approach to Congressional politics.
Politico reported:
Murkowski predicted “it’s going to be hard in these next four years” because the Trump administration’s “approach is going to be: Everybody tow the line. Everybody line up. We got you here, and if you want to survive, you better be good. Don’t get on Santa’s naughty list here, because we will primary you.”
Murkowski’s criticism of the GOP has led to speculation the Senator could decide to leave the Republican Party in the future. Earlier this year, the Alaska Republican made it clear she does not plan to support Trump and is mulling a future run as an Independent.
Speaking to CNN‘s Manu Raju asked Murkowski about the possibility of becoming an Independent. (RELATED: Murkowski Considers Leaving GOP After Being Done With Trump)
“Oh, I think I’m very independent-minded. I just regret that our party is seemingly becoming a party of Trump,” she responded.
