Lisa Murkowski is an incumbent Senator who, earlier this year, lost her primary election to the now-Republican nominee Joe Miller. However, Murkowski chose to press on towards re-election–briefly flirting with the Libertarian Party before deciding to run a write-in campaign. Write-ins have yet to be counted in the race, but they number around 40% of the total votes cast, which means Murkowski could conceivably defeat Republican Joe Miller, the nearest competitor.
If Murkowski manages to be re-elected to the Senate through a write-in campaign, she will be the first to do so since Strom Thurmund of South Carolina did it in 1948.
It is not known what party label Murkowski will choose if she wins and enters the Senate.
18 responses so far ↓
1 Alaska Constitution Party // Nov 3, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Packs of lawyers are already headed to Alaska over this.
2 Dale Sheldon-Hess // Nov 3, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Thurmond was elected to the Senate as a write in ’54, not ’48.
3 NewFederalist // Nov 3, 2010 at 3:08 pm
If anything less than 95% of the total write-ins are for Murkowski this could turn really ugly. The way I figure it 95% of 40% is 38% against 34% for Miller. Going after a diaqualification rate of 15% should not be that tough. Disqualify 15% of the 38% and …bingo… Miller wins.
4 Steve // Nov 3, 2010 at 3:21 pm
I believe Murkowski has already said that she would caucus with the Republicans and I would expect they welcome her back as well. The only question is, what counts as a Murkowski vote? Its not the easiest name to spell correctly.
5 Robert Capozzi // Nov 3, 2010 at 4:49 pm
I continue to support the AKLP’s decision to not have Murkowski on the L line, but my that might have been interesting if she had, and won, as it appears she will, despite the obstacles. Impressive that she’s that compelling to AK voters that they’d go through the bother of writing her it.
6 Catholic Trotskyist // Nov 3, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Go Miller! Murkowski is pro-choice, so since McAdams is out, I will pray for Joe Miller to win
7 Trent Hill // Nov 3, 2010 at 8:16 pm
“I believe Murkowski has already said that she would caucus with the Republicans and I would expect they welcome her back as well.”
I have no doubt she’ll caucus with Republicans, but I’m curious as to what party label she will enroll in the Congressional record. For example, even though Lieberman caucuses with the Democrats, he is enrolled as an “Independent Democrat”
8 ricard // Nov 3, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Sometime ago, about 15 years more or less, a famous European pianist said to me, “I don’t like to visit America because there are too many (I see too many…) criminal faces. I do not think Joe Miller has such a face. I would have voted for HIM were Alaska my home.
9 paulie // Nov 3, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Speaking of famous Europeans, Joe Miller’s outspoken admiration for the Berlin wall (seriosuly) and use of Stasi tactics against journalists remind me of some other famous Europeans, but I’ll try not to invoke Godwin’s law enforcement to come down on me.
10 Vaughn // Nov 3, 2010 at 9:39 pm
Independent Republican?
11 paulie // Nov 3, 2010 at 9:43 pm
How about “Not Joe “Berlin Wall” Miller”? LOL
12 Peter Gemma // Nov 4, 2010 at 8:42 am
3 -NewFederalist – geez, I like your math. Of all the old bulls slated to return to Capitol Hill, Murkowski is the worst. I don’t think a 15% disqualification rate is realistic however (unless there is a history of that number for write-in campaigns.) I’ve got my fingers and toes crossed.
13 Nate // Nov 4, 2010 at 10:48 am
@4: “Murkowski” is easy compared to “Thurmond”. Re-read the article above if you don’t believe me.
I, for one, could have managed “Miranda Veracruz de la Hoya Cardinal” if it meant keeping Joe Miller out of the senate.
14 paulie // Nov 4, 2010 at 10:55 am
Well, at least until East Germany gets its own Senate again under the leadership of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany in the Volkshammer.
15 Alaska Constitution Party // Nov 4, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Alaska Voter Registration Numbers 10/09/10
Total AK Registered Voters: 494,876
Undeclared: 180,685
Republican: 129,543
Nonaffiliated: 79,845
Democrat: 74,720
AIP: 14,308
Libertarian: 9,035
Moderate Republican: 2,719
Green: 2,343
Veteran: 1,678
16 paulie // Nov 4, 2010 at 1:37 pm
Nondeclared and unaffilated are two separate categories? What’s the difference?
17 paulie // Nov 4, 2010 at 2:01 pm
“Murkowski” is easy compared to “Thurmond”. Re-read the article above if you don’t believe me.
I managed to put the R in Thurmond and get the correct decade, as well as post earlier:
http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2010/11/alaska-write-ins-top-number-of-votes-for-anyone-on-ballot-in-u-s-senate-race/
But this one got more readers and comments, so it’s all good.
18 NewFederalist // Nov 4, 2010 at 2:54 pm
#12 Peter Gemma- If the “authorities” checking the write-in votes are even half as tough as they are on checking ballot access petition signatures I think a 15% disqualification rate is not unreasonable.
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