Trump Ally Preparing Senate Run Against Murkowski: Report
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy is quietly preparing a 2028 bid for the U.S. Senate that would put him directly against Sen. Lisa Murkowski, according to multiple sources who spoke to Fox News this week.
The move could set up one of the most high-stakes Republican primaries in the country, pitting President Donald J. Trump’s loyal Alaska ally against one of the GOP’s most notorious moderates — a senator who has repeatedly broken with the president and drawn sharp criticism from the MAGA movement.
“He’s not going to quit his term,” one senior source close to Dunleavy told Fox. “He intends to finish his governorship before making the jump.” The source contrasted Dunleavy’s approach with that of former Gov. Sarah Palin, who resigned early in 2009 to pursue national ambitions, saying, “She never recovered.”
Dunleavy, who became one of the first governors to endorse Trump back in 2016, has been described by allies as a results-driven executive who avoids the Washington spotlight.
“He’s not about an ego and pushing himself in front of the cameras. He gets stuff done,” one source said. “He doesn’t like the cocktail parties and photo ops.”
Even so, Dunleavy recognizes that serving in the Senate would give him the platform to push Alaska’s interests and Trump’s America First agenda on a national scale. “Being in Washington is the only way to get things done,” one ally explained.
Dunleavy has maintained a close relationship with Trump throughout both of the president’s terms, often making the long trip to Washington despite Alaska’s distance. He was present at Trump’s Aug. 15 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, underscoring his role as a key player in U.S.-Alaska relations.
For years, Lisa Murkowski has frustrated conservatives by siding with Democrats on crucial votes and undermining Trump’s agenda. Alaska voters, according to insiders, are hungry for a candidate who can unseat her once and for all.
“Obviously there are a lot of frustrations with Sen. Murkowski,” one GOP source said. “Gov. Dunleavy has been not only a successful governor, but a strong ally for [Trump]. So it’s only natural he’d be hearing this from Alaskans — and from the broader MAGA movement.”
Unlike Murkowski’s past challengers, Dunleavy brings broad appeal beyond the conservative base. He has strong relationships with Alaska’s Native communities across the North Slope and rural areas, where he has prioritized energy development, infrastructure, and education. Those ties could prove decisive in a ranked-choice system that has historically benefited Democrats.
“Murkowski has never faced a challenger like him,” another source said. “He’s built support that goes beyond just conservatives.”
Murkowski, the daughter of former Gov. Frank Murkowski, has proved resilient before. In 2010, after losing the GOP primary to Tea Party candidate Joe Miller, she mounted a successful write-in campaign — a rare political comeback that cemented her reputation as a survivor.
But analysts believe a Dunleavy challenge, with Trump’s full backing, would represent her most formidable test yet.
“Conservatives would welcome an opportunity to unseat Murkowski,” one Alaska political analyst told Fox. “The fact that Trump and Murkowski have had such a strained relationship — and that Dunleavy and the president have a strong one — is really what has led us to this point.”
If Dunleavy formally enters the race, Alaska voters will face a stark choice in 2028: Murkowski, the entrenched moderate with deep establishment roots, or Dunleavy, the Trump-aligned governor with broad support across communities.