Two Senate Republicans are standing in the way of efforts to eliminate a major DEI program that gives no-bid federal contracts to &#8220;socially disadvantaged&#8221; groups, a letter obtained by The Daily Wire shows.
Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan wrote to agencies saying that a race-based program that removes competition for federal contracts for racial minorities &#8220;has reflected conservative, market-based principles by empowering small businesses to compete, grow, and succeed.&#8221; They said a Republican request that agencies review past contracts for &#8220;potential fraud&#8221; was &#8220;premature&#8221; and &#8220;unsupported by established facts.&#8221;
The Trump administration&#8217;s Small Business Administration moved to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/feds-crack-down-on-minority-contracting-schemes-d-c-s-worst-kept-secret" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rein in</a> the federal minority contracting program, known as 8(a), after a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/usaid-official-three-contractors-plead-guilty-to-half-billion-dollar-bribery-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">black businessman bribed</a> a USAID official for half a billion dollars in contracts — a bribe the official could make good on only because contracts to minorities can be handed out at will instead of based on a showing of best value.
In October, James O&#8217;Keefe&#8217;s <a href="https://x.com/JamesOKeefeIII/status/1981042870460252398" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Citizen Journalism Foundation</a> captured officials from a white-led, but ostensibly Native American contractor, bragging about how they got a $100 million contract using minority preference and simply found someone else to do the actual work for a small portion of that. Follow-up reporting featured members of the Native American tribe bemoaning that outsiders were abusing the tribe&#8217;s name to <a href="https://x.com/jamesokeefeiii/status/1988770902243176767?s=42" target="_blank" rel="noopener">enrich</a> themselves, while tribe members lived in poverty.
Alaska Natives get even more preferential treatment than black, Hispanic, and Asian Americans, allowing them to run multibillion-dollar defense contractor companies while getting benefits initially designed for small, disadvantaged firms.
In December, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, which has jurisdiction over the program, wrote to agencies <a href="https://www.ernst.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/12082025sba8aprogramfinalletters.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asking them</a> to &#8220;immediately pause all 8(a) sole-source contracting&#8221; and &#8220;examine all 8(a) set-aside contracts awarded by your agency since FY 20 for any violation of laws and regulations,&#8221; noting that the Biden administration raised the goal for minority contracts to 15%.
For years, inquiries have flagged fraud and abuse in such arrangements, but Alaska Republicans have used their disproportionate power in the Senate to make the topic off-limits. The now-deceased Ted Stevens was an Alaska Republican who chaired the Senate&#8217;s Appropriations Committee for years, and Murkowski now sits on the committee.
Before the DEI craze captured Democrats, it wasn&#8217;t partisan to point out waste and abuse. In 2010, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) found abuse similar to what was highlighted by O&#8217;Keefe. But Murkowski &#8220;immediately sprung into action, lodging objections&#8221; to McCaskill&#8217;s effort to reform the program. McCaskill <a href="https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/article/mccaskill-retreats-attack-on-tribal-contracting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">folded</a>, but said, “Reform in this area is going to happen. It’s not a matter of if, but a matter of when.&#8221;
In the time since, little has changed. In 2011, The Washington Post reported that a D.C. lawyer named Paralee White had used the Alaska program to land more than <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/dc-insiders-can-reap-fortunes-from-federal-programs-for-small-businesses/2011/02/09/AB1NRJS_story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$500 million</a> in military contracts and pay her family members lavish salaries. The Post noted, &#8220;Significantly for White, the subsidiaries set up by the corporations to receive contracts did not have to operate in Alaska or even be run by natives. They just had to be 51 percent owned by Alaska Natives, and they could hire nonnative subcontractors to do much of the work.&#8221;
In <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/national/2010/09/30/bethesda-consultant-made-millions-with-alaska-firm/e9187e20-cc34-11df-8eee-2e1a26a3708e/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">another case</a>, a Bethesda, Maryland, man was paid $15 million to run an Alaskan government contractor for three years, while Alaska Natives received a total of $682,000 in dividends in 2009, or $305 each. The company won a contract to make military uniforms, which it manufactured in Puerto Rico instead of Alaska.
Sullivan and Murkowski did not publicize their letters to federal agencies, which goes against Republican orthodoxy when it comes to DEI and fraud and waste. A spokesman for Murkowski, Joseph Plesha, did not respond when The Daily Wire asked about the letter.
The inquiry asked: &#8220;Do you think the SBA and agencies have done a sufficient job rooting out abuse? If not, what are some examples that you&#8217;ve uncovered through your oversight? Do you support 8(a) for all minorities or only Alaskan natives?&#8221;
It also asked whether the type of Alaska Native Corporation that Murkowski holds up as a success includes Bowhead, virtually all of whose <a href="https://www.bowhead.com/executive-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">executives are white men</a>. Bowhead is technically an arm of an Alaskan tribe, but it is headquartered in the D.C. suburbs, and its family of high-tech defense contractors looks and operates like Northrop Grumman or Lockheed Martin — but without having to compete with them on price.
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1026861" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/bowhead-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1535" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/bowhead-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/bowhead-300x180.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/bowhead-961x576.jpg 961w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/bowhead-768x460.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/bowhead-1536x921.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/bowhead-2048x1228.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></div>
A spokeswoman for Sen. Sullivan, Amanda Coyne, also did not respond to a Daily Wire inquiry requesting data showing that such firms were actually staffed by Alaska Natives.
The letter said the 8(a) program &#8220;reduces administrative burden, shortens acquisition timelines, and avoids the delays and litigation risks that often accompany large-scale procurements. Further, as two Senators who care about the readiness of our military, we consistently hear from top Pentagon officials that the 8(a) Program provides flexibility and timeliness in procuring weapons systems that strengthen our country.&#8221;
The reason that some government officials like using 8(a) contracting is that they do not have to bother with competing for the work, a process designed to get the highest quality and lowest cost. Instead, they can simply choose who they want to give it to. At times, that includes the implicit understanding that the supposedly disadvantaged firm will subcontract much of the work to a traditional firm.
The 8(a) program is also facing court challenges, particularly after recent Supreme Court decisions made it likely that elements of it are unconstitutional. Multiple injunctions have been put in place by judges, and a lawsuit by lawyers from the Center for Individual Rights and the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty has recently been filed on behalf of white people who were left out in the cold.
Dan Lennington, the director of the Wisconsin group&#8217;s Equality Under the Law Project, told The Daily Wire, &#8220;There is simply no question that the 8(a) program has been the source of significant waste, fraud, and abuse. The program was designed for &#8216;economically disadvantaged&#8217; small business owners, yet our clients have reported that these limits are not enforced and easily evaded, meaning that high net-worth individuals often scoop up preferences and sole-source contracts.&#8221;
&#8220;Moreover, the Section 8(a) program has been tainted with unconstitutional racial preferences, including racial preferences for &#8216;Alaska Natives,&#8217; which Senators Murkowski and Sullivan undoubtedly support. Federal law defines this category based on &#8216;blood,&#8217; &#8216;bloodlines,&#8217; and &#8216;minimum blood quantum,&#8217; all of which constitute unconstitutional racial categorizations. SBA should vigorously enforce the President&#8217;s Executive Orders, which require all agencies to eliminate racial preferences, including those remaining in Section 8(a),&#8221; he continued.
Murkowski and Sullivan&#8217;s letter read:
<blockquote>Fraud, waste, and abuse have no place in federal programs, and any participant who violates the law should be held fully accountable. However, we write to express serious concern with recent, unsubstantiated attacks on the Small Business Administration&#8217;s (SBA) 8(a) Business Development Program and the request that federal agencies halt all 8(a) sole-source awards absent verified findings of wrongdoing.
On December 8, 2025, the Chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship sent letters to 22 federal agencies urging a pause on future 8(a) sole-source awards and a review of prior awards based on allegations of &#8220;potential fraud.&#8221; These requests are premature, unsupported by established facts, and risk significant harm to federal missions and thousands of compliant small businesses that lawfully participate in this program. Broad, sensationalized allegations leveled before the completion of any investigation amount to a presumption of guilt and undermine fundamental principles of due process.
For more than 40 years, the 8(a) Program, authorized under Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act, has been one of the federal government&#8217;s most effective tools for promoting entrepreneurship and economic mobility for disadvantaged communities. Participating firms routinely deliver high-quality, specialized services, achieve strong Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) performance ratings, and provide agencies with cost-effective, timely procurement options. The program reduces administrative burden, shortens acquisition timelines, and avoids the delays and litigation risks that often accompany large-scale procurements. Further, as two Senators who care about the readiness of our military, we consistently hear from top Pentagon officials that the 8(a) Program provides flexibility and timeliness in procuring weapons systems that strengthen our country.
We fully support targeted, evidence-based oversight that identifies and removes bad actors. We cannot support sweeping actions that jeopardize thousands of legitimate businesses, many of which perform mission-critical work for your agency and others across the federal government.
Accordingly, we urge you to continue utilizing the 8(a) Program consistent with existing law and regulation, while allowing any appropriate reviews to proceed in an orderly and fact-driven manner. For decades, this program has reflected conservative, market-based principles by empowering small businesses to compete, grow, and succeed, rather than expanding government dependence on bureaucracy.</blockquote>
Editor&#8217;s note: Luke Rosiak <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/luke-rosiak-testifies-at-us-senate-hearing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">testified</a> to the Senate Committee on Small Business about 8(a) contract abuse.

Sens. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.

Alaska Republicans Secretly Working To Protect Fraud-Plagued DEI Program

Alaska

General

Lisa Murkowski

Minority Contracting

U.S.

U.S. Senate

The Senate on Tuesday narrowly voted to confirm a Justice Department official who previously defended President Donald Trump during his criminal trials to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Overcoming vigorous Democrat opposition, the Republican-led Senate confirmed acting deputy attorney general Emil Bove to the lifetime judicial position in a 50-49 vote. Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski (AK) and Susan Collins (ME) joined Democrats in voting against his appointment. 
“Congratulations to our dear friend Emil Bove on his confirmation to serve on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals! This is a GREAT day for our country,” Attorney General Pam Bondi <a href="https://x.com/AGPamBondi/status/1950363578646544696">said</a> on X. “I cannot thank Emil enough for his tireless work and support at [the Justice Department]. He will be missed — and he will be an outstanding judge.”
Bove previously worked as Trump’s lawyer when the Biden administration prosecuted him over his alleged mishandling of classified documents and alleged election interference in the 2020 election. Bove also worked with Trump on the New York hush money case, where Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records but given an unconditional discharge. Before working for Trump, Bove was a federal prosecutor for the Southern District of New York, working on drug and terrorism cases.
In the weeks after Trump nominated him to the judgeship, Democrats have pointed to numerous complaints against Bove from whistleblowers claiming that he instructed Justice Department officials to ignore judicial orders. Democrats were also critical of Bove’s role in the firing of some of the Justice Department lawyers who led the January 6 prosecutions and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/doj-orders-charges-to-be-dismissed-against-nyc-mayor-eric-adams-on-certain-conditions">dismissal</a> of the federal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. 
Ahead of the confirmation vote, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) <a href="https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/rep/releases/grassley-exhaustive-efforts-to-vet-emil-boves-nomination-prove-hes-fit-for-the-job">defended</a> Bove, accusing Democrats of trying to “weaponize” the whistleblower process. 
“He has a strong legal background and has served his country honorably. I believe he will be a diligent, capable, and fair jurist,&#8221; Grassley said. “It’s no surprise to anyone who’s followed this nomination that I have serious concerns with how my Democratic colleagues have conducted themselves. The vicious rhetoric, unfair accusations and abuse directed at Mr. Bove by some on this Committee has crossed the line.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) <a href="https://apnews.com/article/emil-bove-confirmation-whistleblowers-trump-republicans-democrats-71f92822cb2e8d57387748c2451fa724">claimed</a> that the confirmation was a “dark day” for the country. 
“It’s unfathomable that just over four years after the insurrection at the Capitol, when rioters smashed windows, ransacked offices, desecrated this chamber, Senate Republicans are willingly putting someone on the bench who shielded these rioters from facing justice, who said their prosecution was a grave national injustice,” he said.

Jury Continues Deliberations In Trump Hush Money Trial

Republicans Push Past Democrat Obstruction To Confirm Trump-Aligned Judge

Chuck Grassley

Chuck Schumer

Congress

Department of Justice

Donald Trump

Judges

Politics

Senate

Susan Collins

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he would not support any Republican who voted against defunding the parent company of NPR and PBS in an upcoming bill that would enshrine DOGE cuts into law. 
Trump urged Republicans in the Senate to back a $9.4 billion rescission package already passed by the House, which would include more than $1 billion in reductions for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the nonprofit that was created by Congress and is funded by the federal government but is not a governmental agency. The House passed the White House&#8217;s proposed package 214-212 last month, and the Senate is expected to vote next week. 
“It is very important that all Republicans adhere to my Recissions Bill and, in particular, DEFUND THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING (PBS and NPR), which is worse than CNN &amp; MSDNC put together,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Any Republican that votes to allow this monstrosity to continue broadcasting will not have my support or Endorsement. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
The legislation <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-passes-doge-cuts-targeting-foreign-aid-npr-and-pbs">would cut</a> $8.3 billion in foreign spending, including funding for “Net Zero Cities” in Mexico, Iraqi “Sesame Street,” and global LGBTQ+ initiatives, as well as $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. In May, Trump signed an <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/05/ending-taxpayer-subsidization-of-biased-media/">executive order</a> directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to stop funding NPR and PBS, saying the entities were deeply infected with leftwing bias. 
“The [Corporation for Public Broadcasting]’s governing statute reflects principles of impartiality: the CPB may not ‘contribute to or otherwise support any political party,’” the order says. “The CPB fails to abide by these principles to the extent it subsidizes NPR and PBS.  Which viewpoints NPR and PBS promote does not matter. What does matter is that neither entity presents a fair, accurate, or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens.”
NPR and several smaller publicly funded networks have challenged the order in court, <a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.280953/gov.uscourts.dcd.280953.1.0_1.pdf">arguing</a> that it contradicts previous funding allocations made by Congress and violates the First Amendment. The courts have yet to issue a ruling on the suit, but parts of the argument could become moot if the Senate votes to pull the previously authorized spending. 
Some Republicans, including Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, have already voiced opposition to the proposed cuts. The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-threatens-gop-senators-over-vote-on-doge-cuts-f5a86c19?utm_source=chatgpt.com">reported</a> that Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota also indicated he was seeking an exemption for the funding of American Indian public radio stations.

Trump departs for Texas, calls deadly flooding ‘a horrible thing’

Trump Warns Republican Senators: Defund NPR And PBS Or Lose My Endorsement

Corporation for Public Broadcasting

DOGE

Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

spending

The Senate voted Tuesday to pass the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” bringing President Donald Trump&#8217;s chief legislative package one step closer to the finish line.
The bill, which the House of Representatives passed in May, underwent some changes in the Upper Chamber. The bill now returns to the House, which will either pass the amended bill and send it to the president&#8217;s desk, or further revise the text. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is hoping for the former.
&#8220;This bill is President Trump’s agenda, and we are making it law,&#8221; Johnson <a href="https://x.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1940081814011367470" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;House Republicans are ready to finish the job and put the One Big Beautiful Bill on President Trump’s desk in time for Independence Day.&#8221;
Here are the biggest changes the Senate made to the bill.
<h3>The Name</h3>
Thanks to a last-second effort by Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is no longer called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
“I just got the name struck off this bill with a move on the floor of the Senate,&#8221; Schumer <a href="https://x.com/SenSchumer/status/1940080529413427340" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted </a>on X. &#8220;It is no longer named &#8216;One Big Beautiful Bill.&#8217; The bill is a BIG, UGLY BETRAYAL of the American people by the Republicans.”
<h3>The AI Moratorium</h3>
Senators also stripped a provision from the bill that would have paused all state regulations of artificial intelligence for 10 years.
The provision was an early sticking point for the legislation. After voting for the bill, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) <a href="https://x.com/RepMTG/status/1929946902566494653" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, “We have no idea what AI will be capable of in the next 10 years and giving it free rein and tying states&#8217; hands is potentially dangerous. … When the OBBB comes back to the House for approval after Senate changes, I will not vote for it with this in it.”
Senate Republicans originally tried to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/republicans-scrap-deal-big-beautiful-bill-lower-restrictions-states-ai-regulation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">amend</a> the provision, lowering the time to five years and scrapping the absolute moratorium in favor of a few listed restrictions. But the deal fell through when the Senate voted 99-1 to strike the AI provision from the bill.
<h3>Public Land Sales</h3>
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) voted to advance the bill after withdrawing a controversial provision that would have allowed the federal government to sell off public lands, largely in the West.
Lee said the provision — which had irked some <a href="https://x.com/TimSheehyMT/status/1939047707106038251" target="_blank" rel="noopener">other</a> Republican <a href="https://x.com/SenatorRisch/status/1939138126125113473" target="_blank" rel="noopener">senators</a> from Western states, and caused a stir among Democrats, too — had to be cut because the Senate&#8217;s strict budget reconciliation rules made it hard to guarantee that public land could not be sold to foreign countries or major companies instead of American families.
Still, Lee argued that the clause would have allowed for the federal government to sell off land for affordable housing and infrastructure.
&#8220;I continue to believe the federal government owns far too much land,&#8221; Lee said in a <a href="https://x.com/SenMikeLee/status/1939132778605388207" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>. &#8220;Land it is mismanaging and in many cases ruining for the next generation.&#8221;
<h3>Murkowski&#8217;s Demands</h3>
The last Republican holdout, Senator Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/us/politics/murkowski-republican-bill.html?smid=url-share" target="_blank" rel="noopener">secured</a> major changes — which she argued were beneficial to her constituents — before agreeing to vote yes.
The bill seeks to impose spending cuts on food stamps and Medicaid. Murkowski was worried that the strict cuts would disproportionately affect Alaska, which relies heavily on federal funding for those programs. Senators eventually agreed to exempt Alaska from potential changes to food stamps, and to increase federal funding for <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/07/01/congress/gop-boosts-rural-hospital-fund-00435147" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rural hospitals</a> by $25 billion over the next five years.
Senators also removed a controversial <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5379529-solar-wind-excise-tax-senate-gop-megabill/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">solar and wind tax</a> from the bill, hoping to appease Murkowski. The tax would have targeted solar and wind projects that used parts produced in China, among other things.
Despite the concessions, Murkowski walked away unhappy with the bill.
“My goal throughout the reconciliation process has been to make a bad bill better for Alaska, and in many ways, we have done that,” Murkowski <a href="https://x.com/lisamurkowski/status/1940124362625175934" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “But, let’s not kid ourselves. This has been an awful process.”

Trump’s Tax Bill Passes US Senate As Republicans Notch Major Win

Here Are The Major Things The Senate Changed In The Big, Beautiful Bill

Artificial Intelligence

Budget Bill

Medicaid

Mike Johnson

Mike Lee

Senate Republicans

Conservatives celebrated on Thursday as the Senate voted 52-45 to confirm Harmeet Dhillon to a top Justice Department position.
Dhillon, a conservative lawyer who fought Biden’s COVID vaccine mandate, will now become the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ. She was confirmed in a mostly partisan vote, with one Republican, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, voting alongside Democrats against Dhillon’s confirmation.
Throughout her legal career, Dhillon has fought for free speech, religious liberty, and defended President Donald Trump when a group of leftist voters attempted to throw him off the ballot in Colorado during the 2024 election.
“I’m extremely honored by President Trump’s nomination to assist with our nation’s civil rights agenda. It has been my dream to be able to serve our great country, and I am so excited to be part of an incredible team of lawyers led by [Attorney General Pam Bondi]. I cannot wait to get to work!” Dhillon said after she was first nominated by Trump. “I would not be here today without my amazing mother and brother’s support, and my beloved father Tejpal and husband Sarv, who did not live to see this day. I hope I will honor their memories, with God’s grace.”
Conservatives celebrated Dhillon’s confirmation, saying that she was a welcome addition to the DOJ.
“Congrats to my former lawyer [Harmeet Dhillon] on her confirmation as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights,” conservative activist Robby Starbuck <a href="https://x.com/robbystarbuck/status/1907922482050617740" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> on X. “No one will fight harder to ensure that EVERY American has their civil rights protected. A fearless champion for justice!”
The Dhillon Law Group, which was founded by Dhillon, posted a video featuring Daily Wire host Ben Shapiro and others congratulating her after the Senate vote wrapped up. 
“Hey Harmeet, I just want to say thank you so much for all the work you’ve done with Daily Wire to preserve free speech and free access to work and all the rest of the things that you’ve helped us with,” Shapiro said. “I can’t wait to see what you do at the DOJ. They put you in literally the perfect position to kick ass.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
BIG CONGRATULATIONS from all of us at the Dhillon Law Group to our founder and FORMER managing partner, <a href="https://twitter.com/HarmeetKDhillon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HarmeetKDhillon</a> on her confirmation today as the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. You’re going to do great things! <a href="https://t.co/wuBHIe9aBg">pic.twitter.com/wuBHIe9aBg</a>
&mdash; Dhillon Law Group (@dhillonlaw) <a href="https://twitter.com/dhillonlaw/status/1907921768565833761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
One of Dhillon&#8217;s best-known cases was when she <a href="https://www.dhillonlaw.com/lawsuits/the-daily-wire-challenges-biden-administration-vaccine-mandate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">represented</a> The Daily Wire in the legal fight that led to the Supreme Court blocking the Biden administration from enforcing a COVID vaccine mandate for private employers. With Dhillon’s help, The Daily Wire became the first major company to file a lawsuit against the emergency mandate in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit.

US-POLITICS-REPUBLICANS-RNC

Conservatives Cheer As Harmeet Dhillon Confirmed To Key Justice Department Role

Civil Rights

Executive

Harmeet Dhillon

Vaccine Mandate

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced on Thursday that she would oppose the nomination of President Donald Trump&#8217;s nominee for Secretary of Defense, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pete-hegseth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pete Hegseth</a>.
Murkowski, who finds herself at odds with large portions of the Republican base on occasion, said she made her decision after she &#8220;met with him and carefully reviewed his writings, various reports, and other pertinent materials.&#8221;
&#8220;I closely followed his hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee and gathered substantial feedback from organizations, veterans, and Alaskans,&#8221; she said. &#8220;After thorough evaluation, I must conclude that I cannot in good conscience support his nomination for Secretary of Defense. I did not make this decision lightly; I take my constitutional responsibility to provide advice and consent with the utmost seriousness.&#8221;
She praised Hegseth&#8217;s service in the U.S. military, but said that it did not &#8220;alleviate&#8221; her &#8220;significant concerns regarding his nomination.&#8221;
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Murkowski said she had concerns about his ability to navigate through &#8220;one of the most complex and powerful organizations in the world&#8221; due to its enormous size at more than 3 million employees.
She continued:
<blockquote>Although he has recently revised his statements on women in combat since being nominated, I remain concerned about the message that confirming Mr. Hegseth sends to women currently serving and those aspiring to join. Women have served our nation with distinction, overcoming immense obstacles to excel in combat and leadership roles, and they deserve to know that their leader honors and values their commitment to our nation.
While the allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking do nothing to quiet my concerns, the past behaviors Mr. Hegseth has admitted to, including infidelity on multiple occasions, demonstrate a lack of judgment that is unbecoming of someone who would lead our armed forces. These behaviors starkly contrast the values and discipline expected of servicemembers. Men and women in uniform are held accountable for such actions, and they deserve leaders who uphold these same standards.</blockquote>
She believes that Hegseth&#8217;s nomination &#8220;poses significant concerns that I cannot overlook&#8221; given the current threat environment that the U.S. faces.
Murkowski faced backlash online immediately following the announcement, including widespread calls to face a primary challenger.
While Hegseth has owned up to some of his past behavior, he has vigorously denied allegations from unnamed sources who have accused him of sexual misconduct and having drinking problems.

First Republican Senator Comes Out Against Hegseth Nomination

Pete Hegseth

On Wednesday, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> Republicans blocked a Democrat bill that sought to codify the right to access <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/contraception" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contraception</a> in federal law, with many arguing that it would infringe on religious and parental rights.
Fifty-one members, including two Republicans, <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1182/vote_118_2_00190.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voted</a> to advance the legislation — an insufficient number to reach the three-fifths majority needed to break the filibuster. Thirty-eight Republicans voted against moving forward. Nine other GOP members and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-senator-bob-menendez-to-change-party-status-amid-his-corruption-trial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ)</a> did not vote.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) <a href="https://x.com/CraigCaplan/status/1798457646502261075" target="_blank" rel="noopener">switched</a> his vote to &#8220;Nay,&#8221; a move that allowed him to file a <a href="https://x.com/SenateCloakroom/status/1798455388783964209" target="_blank" rel="noopener">motion to reconsider</a> the failed cloture vote at some point in the future. He has set up a vote next week for an IVF bill with a <a href="https://www.democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/transcript-majority-leader-chuck-schumer-delivers-remarks-at-press-conference-with-senate-democrats-after-senate-republicans-blocked-the-right-to-contraception-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated goal</a> of putting Republicans on the record on reproductive rights.
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/4381/text" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The contraception bill</a>, introduced by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), would &#8220;protect an individual’s ability to access contraceptives and to engage in contraception and to protect a health care provider’s ability to provide contraceptives, contraception, and information related to contraception.&#8221;
Democrat lawmakers are pressing the birth control debate in a presidential election year. They argue Markey&#8217;s legislation is necessary because the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade — a ruling that returned the issue of abortion access to the states — also <a href="https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-hirono-duckworth-statement-on-the-right-to-contraception-act-floor-vote" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;threatened&#8221;</a> contraception.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), who is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rick-scott-joins-race-for-senate-gop-leader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">running</a> to become the next leader of the Senate GOP, led 21 of his Republican colleagues in a <a href="https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2024/6/sen-rick-scott-leads-colleagues-in-slamming-democrats-attacks-on-religious-freedoms-parental-rights-political-games-on-contraception" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> that disparaged the contraception bill. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), considered a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-campaign-requests-documents-from-some-vp-contenders-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contender</a> for former President Donald Trump&#8217;s running mate in the 2024 election, was among them.
&#8220;There is no threat to access to contraception, which is legal in every state and required by law to be offered at no cost by health insurers, and it&#8217;s disgusting that Democrats are fearmongering on this important issue to score cheap political points,&#8221; the GOP lawmakers said.
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&#8220;This bill infringes on the parental rights and religious liberties of some Americans and lets the federal government force religious institutions and schools, even public elementary schools, to offer contraception like condoms to little kids,&#8221; they added. &#8220;It’s just another way for Democrats to use activist attorneys and our courts to advance their radical agenda and that is why we oppose this bill.&#8221;
The pair of GOP lawmakers who joined with the majority of Democrats and the independents who caucus with them voting to advance the legislation included Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).
&#8220;This is not a perfect bill,&#8221; Murkowski <a href="https://x.com/lisamurkowski/status/1798457352930357587" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a video posted to X. &#8220;This isn&#8217;t a bill that has gone through committee. Leader Schumer has decided that he&#8217;s just going to put it on the floor to move to it. That&#8217;s a lousy process, actually. This is unfortunately yet another messaging bill &#8230; but if it is going to be a messaging bill, I want my message to be very clear: that a woman should have a right to contraception.&#8221;

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and other senators Speak To The Press After The “Right To Contraception Act” Failed Passage

Senate Republicans Block Dem Contraception Bill

Abortion

Birth Control

Contraception

Ed Markey

Marco Rubio

Rick Scott

Senate Democrats

U.S. House of Representatives

A fanatical environmentalist group claimed it wrecked a gala at which Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski was to be honored by a major oil company and called her a “murderer” and an “ecocidal pyromaniac.”
A video posted by the group Climate Defiance, a self-proclaimed “youth-led group using direct action to resist fossil fuels,” showed people storming a stage and tussling with other participants at the event.
“We just shut down a gala honoring U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski,” the group tweeted. “Murkowski is a murderer. She incinerates us to enrich her cronies. As Chevron&#8217;s top lobbyist gave her an award, we stepped in and stopped the ceremony. Respect us or expect us.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
BREAKING: We just shut down a gala honoring U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski. Murkowski is a murderer. She incinerates us to enrich her cronies. As Chevron&#39;s top lobbyist gave her an award, we stepped in and stopped the ceremony. Respect us or expect us. 🧵 <a href="https://t.co/Q72mHerpdg">pic.twitter.com/Q72mHerpdg</a>
&mdash; Climate Defiance (@ClimateDefiance) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateDefiance/status/1780981172442415450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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“Murkowski brands herself as a moderate but in truth she is an ecocidal pyromaniac. She fought tooth and nail to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to big oil. Is nothing sacred? Is nothing sacred?” they continued.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Murkowski brands herself as a moderate but in truth she is an ecocidal pyromaniac. She fought tooth and nail to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to big oil. Is nothing sacred? Is nothing sacred? (2/5) <a href="https://t.co/PTcG8TvSvz">pic.twitter.com/PTcG8TvSvz</a>
&mdash; Climate Defiance (@ClimateDefiance) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateDefiance/status/1780981174296289352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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“Murkowski played a lead role in persuading Biden to approve the Willow Project. This monstrosity will transport 200,000 barrels of oil every single day. This is hideous. This is cruel and barbaric beyond description,” they added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Murkowski played a lead role in persuading Biden to approve the Willow Project. This monstrosity will transport 200,000 barrels of oil every single day. This is hideous. This is cruel and barbaric beyond description. (3/5)
&mdash; Climate Defiance (@ClimateDefiance) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateDefiance/status/1780981176565461073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) consists of 19,286,722 acres in northeastern Alaska. Polar bears, grizzly bears, and American black bears reside within the Refuge, along with moose, caribou, wolves, and foxes. In August 2020, the Department of opened 1.5 million acres of the coastal plain for drilling, less than 1% of the area of the ANWR. On January 20, 2021, President Biden, on his first day in office, implemented a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-protecting-public-health-and-environment-and-restoring-science-to-tackle-climate-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">moratorium</a> on oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
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Referring to the coastal plain, the U.S. Geological Survey has <a href="https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs-0028-01/fs-0028-01.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>, “Technically recoverable oil within the ANWR 1002 area (excluding State and Native areas) is estimated to be between 4.3 and 11.8 billion barrels (95- and 5-percent probability range), with a mean value of 7.7 billion barrels.”
“Total petroleum imports into the United States amounted to 8.5 million barrels per day in 2023,” <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/191251/total-petroleum-imports-into-the-us-since-2000/#:~:text=Total%20petroleum%20imports%20into%20the,petroleum%20imported%20into%20the%20U.S." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Statista</a> reported.
If 7.7 billion barrels could be retrieved from the ANWR, that would constitute importation of 8.5 million barrels for 905 years, assuring American energy independence for nearly a millennium.

2023 JDRF Children’s Congress, Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing

‘Murderer … Ecocidal Pyromaniac’: Radical Eco-Group Claims It Stormed Stage, Wrecked Murkowski Event

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Environmentalists

Oil and Gas

China and Russia sent naval warships near the coast of Alaska during a joint naval patrol earlier this week, prompting a response from the U.S. Navy and condemnation from Alaska’s senators. 
The two countries sent eleven ships close to Alaska’s southwest coast — nearing the Aleutian Islands — but never entered American waters, according to a <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-and-china-sent-large-naval-patrol-near-alaska-127de28b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from The Wall Street Journal. This is likely the largest fleet of Russian and Chinese ships ever to approach the American coast, experts told the outlet.  
“It is a historical first,” senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, Brent Sadler, said. “Given the context of the war in Ukraine and tensions around Taiwan, this move is highly provocative.”
Republican Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/russia-china-send-naval-ships-near-alaska-triggering-forceful-us-response" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Fox News the U.S. Navy mobilized four destroyers to shadow and guide the Chinese and Russian ships away from Alaska’s coast. A U.S. defense official said the USS John S. McCain, the USS Benfold, the USS John Finn, and the USS Chung-Hoon tracked the foreign ships’ movements and were accompanied by a maritime patrol and reconnaissance plane, the Journal noted. 
A U.S. Northern Command spokesman confirmed to the Journal a combined patrol consisting of Russian and Chinese ships had occurred but would not confirm the number of vessels or their location. 
“Air and maritime assets under our commands conducted operations to assure the defense of the United States and Canada,” a U.S. Northern Command statement said. “The patrol remained in international waters and was not considered a threat.”
A Chinese embassy spokesman told the outlet the patrol and its location was “not targeted at any third party and has nothing to do with the current international and regional situation.” 
Sullivan called the move “unprecedented” and “concerning,” adding, “It just solidifies this idea that we&#8217;ve entered a new era of authoritarian aggression led by the dictators in Beijing and Moscow who are increasingly aggressive.” 
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) expressed <a href="https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-sullivan-statements-on-chinese-and-russian-vessels-in-us-waters-off-coast-of-aleutians" target="_blank" rel="noopener">similar concerns</a> over the increasing tensions and explained the important role Alaska plays in foreign relations and national security, given its proximity to Russia. Murkowski pressed her colleagues in the Senate to support additional funding and resources for military readiness and capabilities in Alaska. 
Sullivan called the U.S. response a “significant improvement” over the “tepid” American response to a smaller flotilla in September. That fleet got 90 miles from the Aleutians and consisted of seven Russian and Chinese ships, Fox News reported. In response, the U.S. dispatched one Coast Guard cutter. 
&#8220;We ramped that up significantly. Four U.S. destroyers and air assets, P-8&#8217;s, that were tracking and monitoring this large-scale Russian-Chinese task force quite closely. So that is a significant improvement,&#8221; Sullivan said of the recent incursion and American response. &#8220;That&#8217;s a lot of naval power up here demonstrating American resolve.&#8221;
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Admiral John Aquilino, the leader of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, said at the Aspen Security Forum last month that Russian-Chinese joint exercises have increased, according to the Journal. “I only see the cooperation getting stronger, and boy that’s concerning. That’s a dangerous world,” he said. 
There is currently a struggle for dominance and power in the Arctic region, which is becoming contested territory, and the Russian-Chinese naval patrols appear to be part of that struggle, the Journal reports. Their work together in the region is a sign of increasing cooperation between Moscow and Beijing. According to the Arctic Council, which is an intergovernmental forum focused on the Arctic, the Aleut region, where the Aleutian Islands are located, is <a href="https://arctic-council.org/news/at-the-doorway-to-the-arctic-an-aleut-perspective-on-a-sustainable-arctic-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">referred</a> to as the &#8220;doorway to the Arctic.&#8221; 
Eight countries that have territory in the Arctic make up the Arctic Council and are “stewards of the region,” according to the Council <a href="https://arctic-council.org/about/states/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a>. They include the U.S., Canada, Russia, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, and Norway, and according to the council, “Their national jurisdictions and international law govern the lands surrounding the Arctic Ocean and its waters.” 
China, however, claimed it was a “near-Arctic state” in 2018 in an attempt to push for a greater governance role in the region, according to the <a href="https://www.rand.org/blog/rand-review/2022/12/what-does-chinas-arctic-presence-mean-to-the-us.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RAND Corporation</a>. It has attempted to establish gas and mining operations in the region and claims it is an “active participant, builder, and contributor in Arctic affairs.”

RUSSIA-MOSCOW-CHINA-XI JINPING-PUTIN-TALKS

China And Russia Sent Warships Near Alaska Coast, Prompting U.S. Response

China

Communist China

Global Politics

Russia

World

Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lisa-murkowski" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lisa Murkowski</a> (R-AK) said during an interview this week that if the 2024 presidential election is a rematch of the last election, she will vote for one of her colleagues, Joe Manchin (D-WV).
Murkowski told PBS’ Margaret Hoover on &#8220;Firing Line&#8221; in an interview that aired Friday that she would vote for Manchin for president if he runs as a third party candidate.
&#8220;Your Democratic colleague, Joe Manchin, is being courted by an outside effort to run as an independent in the 2024 election,&#8221; Hoover said. &#8220;This has been called by the organization No Labels, an insurance policy. Do you see any scenario where a third-party candidacy isn’t a spoiler for Donald Trump and just returns him to the White House?&#8221;
“Yeah, you know, there’s been no end of second-guessing and people moving the numbers around,” Murkowski responded. &#8220;I don’t know on that. Others are smarter than me with elections [and] can weigh in there and they certainly have. Think about it: If we go into a 2024 scenario where it’s basically a redo of 2020 between Trump and Biden, what does that say? That we have nobody better than these two?&#8221;
&#8220;And so, an Independent or somebody who is offering something in the middle. People are hungry for that,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;I can tell you, I’m talking to people up north. They’re asking because they know that I’m very close with Joe Manchin and I brought him up to this state a couple of times and he endorsed me. I’ve endorsed him.&#8221;
A few moments later, Hoover asked Murkowski if she would support Manchin if he decided to run as a third party candidate.
&#8220;I tell you, if it’s a matchup between Biden and Trump, I know exactly where I’d go,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I would go with, I would go with Joe Manchin.&#8221;
&#8220;I am one who doesn’t like to use my vote for the lesser of evils,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;I want to be proactive in who I think could do the job. I think Manchin could do the job. But will our system allow for that? That I don’t know.&#8221;
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WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
&quot;If it&#39;s a matchup between Biden and Trump, I know exactly where I&#39;d go. I would go with Joe Manchin,&quot; GOP Sen. <a href="https://twitter.com/lisamurkowski?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@lisamurkowski</a> tells <a href="https://twitter.com/MargaretHoover?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MargaretHoover</a>.
She says she doesn&#39;t want to vote &quot;for the lesser of evils.&quot; 
&quot;I want to be proactive….I think Manchin could do the job.” (1/2) <a href="https://t.co/LNiqLPROYd">pic.twitter.com/LNiqLPROYd</a>
&mdash; Firing Line with Margaret Hoover (@FiringLineShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/FiringLineShow/status/1682112962675261440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Biden/Trump

Murkowski Says She’ll Vote For Her Senate Colleague If Trump-Biden Rematch Happens

Murkowski Says She'll Vote For Her Senate Colleague If Trump-Biden Rematch Happens

2024 Election

Elections

Joe Biden

Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lisa-murkowski" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lisa Murkowski</a> (R-AK) has won re-election after state officials finished a final round of vote-counting in the state&#8217;s ranked choice voting system.
Murkowski won re-election over Republican challenger Kelly Tshibaka Wednesday evening in a ranked choice runoff because neither candidate reached 50% on the ballot.
After the second-choice votes were counted, Murkowski ended up beating Tshibaka, 53.7% to 46.3%.
“I am honored that Alaskans — of all regions, backgrounds and party affiliations — have once again granted me their confidence to continue working with them and on their behalf in the U.S. Senate,” Murkowski said in a statement after the results were announced. &#8220;I look forward to continuing the important work ahead of us.&#8221;
Alaska Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy also won re-election, becoming the state&#8217;s first governor since 1998 to do so.
&#8220;Alaskans, thank you for voting and for your continued support over the past four years,&#8221; he said in a statement. &#8220;From public safety and improving our education outcomes to growing our economy, I am honored to serve Alaskans for another four years.&#8221;
&#8220;We look forward to working with the Legislature to prioritize the policies Alaskans expect us to accomplish,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Together, we will work to build an Alaska not just for the next four years but for 50 years and beyond. I will devote myself to ensuring our best days are in front of us.&#8221;
Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK) also won re-election against Sarah Palin, who former President Donald Trump backed along with Tshibaka, in the state&#8217;s at-large House seat.
The Washington Post noted that Peltola, who is considered to be a more moderate Democrat, is the first Alaska Native to win a full term in Congress.
&#8220;This is a two-year contract,&#8221; she said. &#8220;And I will be happy to work for Alaskans again, as long as they&#8217;ll have me.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/no-deadliest-catch-a-billion-snow-crabs-vanish-from-bering-sea-and-no-one-knows-why" target="_blank" rel="noopener">No Deadliest Catch: A Billion Snow Crabs Vanish From Bering Sea And No One Knows Why</a>

GOP Senator In Alaska Lisa Murkowski Campaigns For Re-Election On Day Of Midterm Elections

Lisa Murkowski Wins Re-Election In U.S. Senate, Mike Dunleavy First Alaska Governor To Win Re-Election Since 1998: Projection

Alaska&#8217;s ranked-choice voting system could lead to uncertainty and delays following the midterm elections, and the winners of some races could be unknown for several weeks.
Ranked-choice voting was approved by the state&#8217;s voters in the 2020 election. In the system, all voters receive the same ballot, regardless of the voter&#8217;s political affiliation. All candidates are listed on the same ballot.
Instead of voting for a single candidate for each office, voters rank all the candidates for a particular office based on preference, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/alaska-ranked-choice-voting-5ae6c163af2f8a70a8f90928267c4086">according</a> to the Associated Press.
If a single candidate receives at least 50% of first place votes, that candidate is declared the winner. If no single candidate receives at least 50% of the total first-place votes, the candidate with the least amount of votes gets eliminated and a second round commences. If the eliminated candidate was a voter&#8217;s top choice, then the voter&#8217;s second-place choice gets their vote in the second round.
In Alaska&#8217;s ranked-choice system, the rounds continue until there are two candidates left. The candidate with the most votes at the end of that round is the winner of the election. The second round of counting for Alaska&#8217;s elections will take place on November 23.
Critics argue the system is confusing and can lead to less popular candidates winning.
The first round of the Alaska Senate race included three GOP candidates and one Democrat, as the ranked-choice system included the top four frontrunners from the primary held in August. Trump-endorsed Republican Kelly Tshibaka currently leads with 44.48% of the vote and incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski follows at 43% with an estimated 70% of the vote counted, <a href="https://results.decisiondeskhq.com/national/2022-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> Decision Desk HQ.
Democrat Patricia Chesbro is currently third with just 9.57% of the votes, followed by GOP candidate Buzz Kelley at 2.94%.
The election is decisively Republican at over 90% of the total votes, but the ranked-choice system is making the final decision more complicated. If no single candidate receives at least 50% of the votes, the election will move to the next round.
In the Senate, Republicans are confident that either Tshibaka or Murkowski will win due to their large margin over other candidates. Some are concerned that Murkowski, who voted to convict former President Donald Trump after the events of January 6, could defeat her opponent due to being more moderate and picking up more second-place votes from Democrats.
Alaska also included a House race for the state&#8217;s only congressional seat. An August special election to replace the late Rep. Don Young that utilized the state&#8217;s ranked-choice system ended in defeat for Republicans.
In that election, Democrat Mary Peltola received 40% of votes, Republican Sarah Palin received 31%, and fellow Republican Nick Begich got 28% in the first round. Since no single candidate received at least half of the votes, the top two candidates, Peltola and Palin, remained, and in the second round the votes that ranked Begich as the first choice were redistributed among those votes&#8217; second choice picks. Peltola then defeated Palin 51.5% to 48.5%.
Peltola became the first Democrat to represent Alaska in the House in a half-century despite receiving less than half of the state&#8217;s first place votes.
In the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-mary-peltola-republican-sarah-palin-alaska-house-election-outcome-uncertain-in-ranked-choice-vote" target="_blank" rel="noopener">results</a> from Tuesday&#8217;s election, Peltola currently leads with 47.34% of the vote (101,236), with Palin at 26.66% (57,005), Begich at 24.27% (51,896), and Libertarian Chris Bye at 1.74% (3,716). An estimated 70% of the votes have been counted so far, <a href="https://results.decisiondeskhq.com/national/2022-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> Decision Desk HQ. Republicans are currently combined for 50.93% of the overall votes.
Peltola could win again unless the GOP&#8217;s &#8220;rank the red&#8221; strategy was successful. Following the party&#8217;s August loss, both Palin and Begich emphasized voting for their Republican opponent as a second choice to keep a Democrat out of Congress.
The situation was even <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republican-sen-murkowski-says-she-will-vote-for-democrat-running-against-sarah-palin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more complicated</a> after Murkowski said she planned to vote for Peltola, a Democrat, as her first choice. Peltola later confirmed she was also planning to select Murkowski as her first choice.
The election for the state&#8217;s governor is shaping up to be far clearer. Incumbent Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy could <a href="https://results.decisiondeskhq.com/national/2022-governor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">win</a> in the first round, currently holding 52.17% of the total vote. If his percentage remains at 50% or above, it will allow him to avoid a runoff and secure his re-election.

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