Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) came under fire on Monday from former president Donald Trump for choosing to support pro-impeachment Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s (R-AK) reelection campaign against opponent Kelly Tshibaka with $9 million rather than other candidates in swing states like GOP Blake Masters in AZ.
According to a press statement from Trump, “Kelly Tshibaka is doing really well in Alaska, potentially leading horrifically terrible Sen Lisa Murkowski, a Republican (barely!) The Dem has really no chance, however, the Old Cracked Crow, Mitchell McConnell, is approving $9 million to be spent in order to defeat a brilliant Republican, Kelly, rather than $9 million that might be utilized for Blake Masters as well as other Republicans who, with this money, would defeat their Democrat opponent. Is this not ironic?
Trump’s declaration is noteworthy because it exposes McConnell’s preference for supporting a beleaguered establishment buddy on Capitol Hill over deploying the same resources to win back the Senate from Democrats.
With only 28 days till the election, Tshibaka and Murkowski are locked in a tight race. Even though Murkowski has spent nearly $7.5 million more than Tshibaka, who has outraised the incumbent with in-state contributions, polls show a tie between the two candidates and within the margin of error.
Eighty-five percent of Murkowski’s funding has come from outside the state, including McConnell and other supporters of the status quo. Questions regarding Murkowski’s interests are highlighted by the significant portion of her fundraising that took place outside the state. The senator from the establishment has pledged to support Pres. Joe Biden’s agenda if elected and has voted with Dems nine times in the last two years.
On May 18, 2022, in Washington, DC, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) addresses a news conference regarding high gas costs. Meanwhile, establishment senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), whose voting history in the 2021–2022 election cycle mirrors socialist senator Bernie Sanders (I–VT), is facing up against Republican Blake Masters, who has received Trump’s endorsement, in a difficult but winnable battle in Arizona.
As the incumbent, Kelly is still at risk since she hasn’t been able to win over enough undecided votes, which is a challenge for every incumbent in a contest. Because of the incumbent’s voting history, many voters will cast their ballots against her.
