Murkowki announces her write-in campaign in 2010
Background/Overview: Lisa Murkowski was reelected in an unusual manner in 2010 after she lost the Republican primary to Tea Party candidate Joe Miller, but running as a write-in candidate during the general election and defeating both Miller and the Democratic candidate Scott McAdams. However, the fact that the Republican Party was divided between Murkowski and Miller means that Murkowski could win only 35.5% of the vote, which would not typically be enough to win a Senatorial campaign. This means that Murkowski's Reelection constituency alone, unlike those of most incumbents, will most likely not guarantee her victory as much as it usually would. Therefore, Murkowski's campaign strategy has to consist of much more than simply winning her reelection constituency, which is the constituency that Congress members generally place the most attention on.
Murkowski's name written on a 2010 ballot
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Travel Log
November 22nd 2014- Anchorage, AK: Attended the Howard Rock and Ted Stevens Gala that recognizes the accomplishments and contributions of Alaskan natives
December 19th 2014- Anchorage, AK: Went to a local shopping mall to assist the Salvation Army and sing Christmas carols
January 17th 2015- Anchorage, AK: Attended the Great Alaska Beer and Barley Wine Festival
January 31st 2015- Seattle WA: Visited the Arctic Encounter Symposium to discuss "charting a path to U.S leadership in the far North"
February 13th 2015- Anchorage, AK: Promoted and attended Alaska's 38th annual "Salute to the Military" to honor Armed Service members
February 15th 2015- Barrow, AK: Visited the Kivgiq Dance Festival, which celebrated the dance culture of the far North
February 17th 2015- Kotzebue, AK: Met with the Alaska Federation of Natives
February 17th 2015- Juneau, AK: Attended the Alaska Symphony of Seafood, and then speaks to the Alaska State Legislature the next day
February 20th 2015- Fairbanks, AK: Speaks at the "Go Red for Women" to show support against heart disease
February 21st 2015- Anchorage, AK: Attends the Grand Opening of a Catfish & Barbecue restaurant, before attending a U.S army rally session the next day
Murkowski with the female members of Alaska's state legislature
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Press Releases
Over the past 3 months (since December 2014), Murkowski has given a total of 55 press releases. Her most recent release, given on February 24th 2015, regarded President Obama's veto of the Keystone XL Pipeline. She showed her disapproval of the decision, saying, "President Obama turned his back on hard-working Americans, hard-working families, and the businesses that grow our nation’s economy." Other recent releases in the month of February include, but are not limited to, her support for Secretary of Defense nominee Ashton Carter, her backing of a balanced budget, and her support of the Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act, a bill she co-sponsored, which opposed taxations on internet access. So far, she has issued 17 releases in (24 days of) February, compared to 21 in January, and only 17 in December, showing her growing activity with the media as time progresses.
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Bills Sponsored and Cosponsored
Since December 2014, Murkowski has sponsored a total of 9 bills, including the Keystone XL Pipeline approval act and others bills that authorize the expenditures by the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and a bill to designate an Alaskan mountain as "Mount Denali", among others. By comparison, she has cosponsored 36 bills in the year of 2015 alone. Notably, she cosponsored 0 bills in December of 2014, and 25 in January, once again showing a rise in the amount of action taken in recent months. Recent cosponsored bills include acts celebrating black history month, acts advocating the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, and a resolution welcoming the Israeli Prime Minister to the United States.
