Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she has thought about what joining the Democratic caucus would look like.
The Alaskan has been a vocal critic of President Trump, clashing with him on how he’s handled America’s relationship with Ukraine amid its war with Russia and questioning potential cuts in his One Big Beautiful Bill.
Mr. Trump tried to stop her from getting reelected in 2022, calling her a “failed candidate” after labeling her as “disloyal” in 2021. She voted to convict Mr. Trump earlier that year for the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
In an interview with Galen Druke for his GD Politics podcast, she said there “may be that possibility” when asked if she would be an independent and caucus with the Democrats if they won three seats in the 2026 midterm elections. Adding Ms. Murkowski could give them a majority in the Senate.
“It’s an interesting hypothetical,” she said.
“My problem with your hypothetical is that as challenged as I think we may be on the Republican side, I don’t see the Democrats being much better,” Ms. Murkowski said. “And they’ve got not only their share of problems, but quite honestly, they’ve got some policies that I just inherently disagree with.”
While she wouldn’t concretely say she’d switch to independent or caucus with the Democrats, Ms. Murkowski said “there is some openness to exploring something different than the status quo.”
In a recent interview with Semafor, she said she has been asked to consider switching.
“I would [not be] honest with you if I said I’ve never been asked … ‘Why don’t you switch?’ Or people have said: ‘You should switch,’” she said. “Have I considered it? Yes, because I’ve been asked the question.”
Ms. Murkowski, a moderate Republican compared with some of her colleagues, said she has struggled with some policies pushed by the GOP.
“Do I feel that within my Republican conference I always feel like I’m right here in my political home? No. There’s sometimes directions and policies that I disagree with,” she said, adding that she still feels like she “more closely” aligns with the GOP.
“But having said that, it is not [accurate] that I allow a label to define me. And I think maybe this is what causes some frustration with people,” she said.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.