Trump Ally Preparing Senate Run Against Murkowski: Report
Mike Dunleavy is preparing to announce a potential 2028 campaign for the U.S. Senate, setting up what could become one of the most closely watched Republican primary battles in the country.
According to sources close to the governor, Dunleavy is considering a challenge to longtime incumbent Lisa Murkowski — a Republican lawmaker who has frequently clashed with Donald J. Trump and is often viewed as one of the most moderate members of the GOP conference.
Dunleavy, by contrast, has been a loyal ally of Trump since the early days of the president’s political rise.
Dunleavy Expected to Finish His Term
Sources emphasize that the governor has no plans to leave office early to pursue a Senate bid.
“He’s not going to quit his term,” one source close to Dunleavy, who previously worked with him in Juneau, said. The source stressed that the governor intends to complete his current term before entering a Senate race.
That approach appears designed to avoid comparisons to Sarah Palin, who resigned as governor in 2009 amid speculation about national ambitions.
“The last governor to leave office early to pursue national ambitions was Sarah Palin,” the source noted. “She never recovered.”
Trump Ally With Strong Alaska Record
Those familiar with Dunleavy’s leadership say he has developed a reputation for focusing on policy rather than political theatrics.
“He’s not about an ego and pushing himself in front of the cameras. He gets stuff done,” the source said. “He doesn’t like the cocktail parties and photo ops.”
Despite his preference for Alaska over Washington, Dunleavy reportedly recognizes that national influence is often necessary to advance the state’s priorities.
While he has joked that he prefers Alaska’s Arctic landscapes to “all this concrete” in Washington, allies say he understands the importance of federal representation.
Dunleavy was also one of Trump’s earliest gubernatorial supporters. He became the second governor to endorse Trump in 2016 and has since been one of the most frequent visitors to the White House among state leaders — despite the roughly 3,500-mile distance between Alaska and Washington.
“Trump has talked to him before about running and wants him to run,” one source said.
The governor was also present at Trump’s Aug. 15 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, underscoring his close ties to the administration.
Murkowski Faces Potentially Toughest Challenge Yet
Murkowski, the daughter of former Alaska governor Frank Murkowski, has long been a powerful figure in Alaska politics and has repeatedly demonstrated political resilience.
In 2010, she famously mounted a successful write-in campaign after losing the Republican primary to Tea Party candidate Joe Miller — a rare feat in modern American politics.
But analysts say Dunleavy could present a significantly different challenge.
“A lot of people have mentioned this (race) to him and … I think it is a very viable option for him,” another source told Fox News Digital.
“Obviously there are a lot of frustrations with Sen. Murkowski,” the source added. “Gov. Dunleavy has been not only a successful governor, but a strong ally for him. So it’s only natural that he’d be hearing that from Alaskans — but also from folks in the broader MAGA movement.”
Ranked-Choice Voting Adds Wildcard
Like Murkowski, Dunleavy has successfully navigated Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system, a system critics argue has sometimes helped moderate candidates and Democrats remain competitive in statewide races.
Still, those familiar with Alaska politics say Dunleavy may bring a broader coalition to the race than previous conservative challengers.
He has built relationships with Native communities across Alaska’s North Slope and rural regions, focusing on priorities such as energy development, infrastructure investment, and rural education.
Those relationships could prove decisive in a statewide race where Alaska Native voters often play a critical role.
“Murkowski has never faced a challenger like him,” another source said. “He’s built support that goes beyond just conservatives.”
Conservatives See Opportunity
Political analysts note that Murkowski’s long-running tensions with Trump have fueled interest in a primary challenge from within the Republican base.
“Conservatives would welcome an opportunity to unseat Murkowski,” one Alaska political analyst said Thursday.
“The fact that Trump and Murkowski have had such a strained relationship and Dunleavy and the president (have) a good relationship is really what has led us to this point.”
If the governor ultimately enters the race, the 2028 contest could become one of the most high-profile Senate battles of the cycle — pitting a longtime moderate incumbent with deep political roots against a Trump-aligned governor with growing grassroots support across Alaska.