Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Lisa Murkowski
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Lisa Murkowski made an impact.
Lisa Murkowski is an American attorney and politician currently serving as the senior United States senator from Alaska, a position she has held since 2002. Notably, she is the first woman to represent Alaska in the Senate and is the Senate's second-most senior Republican woman. Following the death of Representative Don Young, Murkowski also became the dean of Alaska's congressional delegation, marking her as a prominent figure in Alaskan politics.
1987: Worked as an Attorney
In 1987, Lisa Murkowski began working as an attorney in the Anchorage District Court Clerk's office.
1990: Mayor's Task Force for the Homeless
From 1990 to 1991, Lisa Murkowski served on the Mayor's Task Force for the Homeless.
1998: Ended private practice
In 1998, Lisa Murkowski ended her time as an attorney in private practice in Anchorage, a position she had held since 1989.
1998: Elected to Alaska House
In 1998, Lisa Murkowski was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives, representing District 18.
1999: Became Member of Alaska House of Representatives
In 1999, Lisa Murkowski became a member of the Alaska House of Representatives.
1999: Introduced Joint Armed Services Committee Legislation
In 1999, Lisa Murkowski introduced legislation establishing a Joint Armed Services Committee.
2000: Re-elected in Alaska House
In 2000, Lisa Murkowski was re-elected in the Alaska House.
December 2002: Appointed to U.S. Senate
In December 2002, Lisa Murkowski was appointed by her father, Governor Frank Murkowski, to fill his U.S. Senate seat, causing controversy due to nepotism.
2002: Won primary challenge
In 2002, Lisa Murkowski faced a conservative primary opponent and won by 56 votes.
January 7, 2003: Sworn into Senate
On January 7, 2003, Lisa Murkowski was sworn in as a U.S. Senator.
2003: Named House Majority Leader
In 2003, Lisa Murkowski was named as House Majority Leader for the 2003-04 legislative session.
2003: Murkowski amends financial disclosures
In 2008, Lisa Murkowski amended her Senate financial disclosures for 2004 through 2006, adding income from a property sale in 2003 and from the sale of her "Alaska Pasta Company" in 2005.
2004: Won full term to the Senate
In 2004, Lisa Murkowski secured 48.6% of the vote to win a full term to the Senate.
2004: Won Senate election against Tony Knowles
In 2004, Lisa Murkowski won the Senate election against former Governor Tony Knowles after a close race.
2004: Murkowski amends financial disclosures
In 2008, Lisa Murkowski amended her Senate financial disclosures for 2004 through 2006, adding income from a property sale in 2003 and from the sale of her "Alaska Pasta Company" in 2005.
2005: Murkowski amends financial disclosures
In 2008, Lisa Murkowski amended her Senate financial disclosures for 2004 through 2006, adding income from a property sale in 2003 and from the sale of her "Alaska Pasta Company" in 2005.
2006: Murkowski amends financial disclosures
In 2008, Lisa Murkowski amended her Senate financial disclosures for 2004 through 2006, adding income from a property sale in 2003 and from the sale of her "Alaska Pasta Company" in 2005.
2008: Murkowski amends financial disclosures
In 2008, Lisa Murkowski amended her Senate financial disclosures for 2004 through 2006, adding income from a property sale in 2003 and from the sale of her "Alaska Pasta Company" in 2005.
2009: Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference
In 2009, Lisa Murkowski became vice chair of the Senate Republican Conference.
August 24, 2010: Trailed in Republican Primary
On August 24, 2010, Lisa Murkowski initially trailed Joe Miller in the Republican Party primary election.
August 29, 2010: Libertarian Party Vote
On August 29, 2010, the state Libertarian Party executive board voted not to consider Lisa Murkowski as its Senate nominee.
September 17, 2010: Announced Write-In Campaign
On September 17, 2010, Lisa Murkowski announced that she would mount a write-in campaign for the Senate seat.
November 17, 2010: Won Write-In Campaign
On November 17, 2010, Lisa Murkowski became only the second Senate candidate to win a write-in campaign.
December 10, 2010: Judge Dismissed Miller's Case
On December 10, 2010, an Alaskan judge dismissed Joe Miller's case, clearing the way for Lisa Murkowski.
2010: Lost Republican Primary
In 2010, Lisa Murkowski lost the Republican primary to Tea Party candidate Joe Miller but later won the general election as a write-in candidate.
2010: Secured 39.5% in Senate race
In 2010, Lisa Murkowski secured 39.5% of the vote in the Senate race.
2010: Seen as More Moderate
Since she was reelected in 2010, some have deemed Lisa Murkowski's voting record "more moderate" than that of her previous years in the Senate.
2013: Voted with Obama's position
In 2013, Lisa Murkowski voted with President Barack Obama's position 72.3% of the time, making her one of only two Republicans to vote with Obama over 70% of the time.
2013: National Journal Score
In 2013, the National Journal gave Lisa Murkowski a composite score of 56% conservative and 45% liberal.
2015: Chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
In 2015, Lisa Murkowski became chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
2016: Secured 44.4% in Senate race
In 2016, Lisa Murkowski secured 44.4% of the vote in the Senate race.
2016: Re-elected to the Senate
In 2016, Lisa Murkowski was re-elected to the Senate after securing the Republican Party nomination.
2017: Ranked Second-Most Liberal Republican
In 2017, The New York Times arranged Republican senators by ideology and ranked Lisa Murkowski the second-most liberal Republican.
2018: Second-most liberal Republican senator
According to GovTrack, as of 2018, Murkowski was the second-most liberal Republican senator, to the left of all Senate Republicans except Susan Collins, and to the left of Democratic Senator Joe Manchin.
2018: Opposed Kavanaugh's Nomination
In 2018, Lisa Murkowski opposed Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination.
March 2019: Wrote Op-Ed on Climate Change
In March 2019, Lisa Murkowski and Joe Manchin wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post about climate change debate in Congress.
June 2020: Trump Pledged to Support Challenger
In June 2020, former President Donald Trump pledged to support a Republican challenger to Lisa Murkowski.
December 2020: Response to Trump's Veto
In December 2020, Lisa Murkowski issued a press release regarding Trump's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act.
2020: Voted on Barrett Confirmation
In 2020, Lisa Murkowski voted against procedural motions to accelerate Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation to the Supreme Court, though she later voted to confirm Barrett.
January 6, 2021: Murkowski calls for Trump's resignation
On January 6, 2021, after the attack on the United States Capitol by Trump supporters, Lisa Murkowski called for then-President Trump to resign for inciting the insurrection, becoming the first Senate Republican to publicly suggest he leave office before Joe Biden's inauguration.
January 2021: Voted with Trump's Position
As of January 2021, Lisa Murkowski had voted in accordance with President Donald Trump's position approximately 72.6% of the time.
February 2021: Voted to Convict Trump
In February 2021, Lisa Murkowski was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial.
June 18, 2021: Trump Endorsed Kelly Tshibaka
On June 18, 2021, Donald Trump endorsed Kelly Tshibaka for the Senate in 2022.
July 10, 2021: Alaska Republican Party Endorsed Tshibaka
On July 10, 2021, the Alaska Republican Party endorsed Kelly Tshibaka.
September 30, 2021: Murkowski votes for temporary spending bill
On September 30, 2021, Lisa Murkowski was among 15 Senate Republicans who voted with all Democrats and both Independents for a temporary spending bill, successfully averting a government shutdown.
2021: Vice Chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee
In 2021, Lisa Murkowski became vice chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.
2021: Murkowski questions her fit in the Republican Party
In 2021, Lisa Murkowski stated that if the Republican Party becomes only the party of Trump, she would question whether it is the party for her, but she also stated that she would not move to the Democratic party.
2021: Voted to Convict Donald Trump
In 2021, Lisa Murkowski was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict Donald Trump of incitement of insurrection in his second impeachment trial, leading to censure by the Alaska Republican Party.
February 5, 2022: Murkowski condemns RNC censure of Kinzinger and Cheney
On February 5, 2022, Lisa Murkowski joined Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson in condemning the Republican National Committee's censure of Representatives Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney for their involvement with the January 6th Committee.
April 7, 2022: Voted to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson
On April 7, 2022, Lisa Murkowski voted to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court.
2022: Murkowski supports Respect for Marriage Act
In 2022, Lisa Murkowski and 11 other Senate Republicans voted for the Respect for Marriage Act.
2022: Filed to Run for Fourth Term
In 2022, Lisa Murkowski ran for a fourth term.
2022: Secured 53.7% in Senate race
In 2022, Lisa Murkowski secured 53.7% of the vote in the Senate race.
2022: Supported Ketanji Brown Jackson's Supreme Court Nomination
In 2022, Lisa Murkowski supported Ketanji Brown Jackson's Supreme Court nomination.
2022: Reelected to Senate
In 2022, Lisa Murkowski was reelected to the Senate.
2022: Won Reelection
In 2022, Lisa Murkowski won reelection by beating Kelly Tshibaka.
January 2023: Voted with Biden's position
As of January 2023, Lisa Murkowski had voted with President Joe Biden's position about 67% of the time.
2023: Murkowski supports Willow oil drilling project
As of 2023, Lisa Murkowski supports ConocoPhillips's controversial Willow oil drilling project on North Slope Borough, Alaska.
2024: Murkowski discusses her party affiliation
In 2024, Lisa Murkowski described herself as "independently minded" and said she was "not attached to a label," but that she would remain a registered Republican.
