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 a senior United States Senator for Alaska, a position she has held since 2002. She is notable as the first woman to represent Alaska in the Senate and is the second-most senior Republican woman in the Senate. With the passing of Representative Don Young, Murkowski became the dean of Alaska's congressional delegation. Her tenure reflects a significant presence in Alaskan and national politics.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1987: Attorney in Anchorage District Court

From 1987 to 1989, Lisa Murkowski worked as an attorney in the Anchorage District Court Clerk's office.

1989: Attorney in Private Practice

From 1989 to 1998, Lisa Murkowski was an attorney in private practice in Anchorage.

1990: Mayor's Task Force

From 1990 to 1991, Lisa Murkowski served on the Mayor's Task Force for the Homeless.

1998: Elected to Alaska House

In 1998, Lisa Murkowski was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives, representing District 18.

1999: 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 in the Alaska House of Representatives.

2000: Re-elected to Alaska House

Lisa Murkowski was re-elected to the Alaska House of Representatives in 2000.

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 after he resigned to become governor. The appointment caused controversy in Alaska.

2002: Re-elected to Alaska House

In 2002, Lisa Murkowski was re-elected to the Alaska House of Representatives. She faced a conservative primary opponent, Nancy Dahlstrom, and won by 56 votes.

January 7, 2003: Sworn into U.S. Senate

On January 7, 2003, Lisa Murkowski was sworn in as a U.S. Senator.

2003: House Majority Leader

Lisa Murkowski was named as House Majority Leader for the 2003–04 legislative session but resigned before taking office due to her appointment to the U.S. Senate.

2004: Senate Election Campaign

In 2004, Lisa Murkowski campaigned against Tony Knowles for a full Senate term after winning a primary challenge. She narrowly defeated Knowles.

2004: Elected to Full Senate Term

In 2004, Lisa Murkowski ran for and won a full term in the U.S. Senate, securing 48% of the vote.

2004: Won Senate Election

In 2004, Lisa Murkowski won 48.6% of the vote in the Senate election.

January 2005: End of Unexpired Senate Term

In January 2005, Lisa Murkowski completed her father's unexpired Senate term.

2008: Murkowski Amended Senate Financial Disclosures

In 2008, Murkowski amended her Senate financial disclosures for 2004 through 2006, adding income from the sale of a property in 2003 and from the sale of her "Alaska Pasta Company" in 2005.

2009: Vice Chair of Senate Republican Conference

From 2009 to 2010, Lisa Murkowski served as vice chair of the Senate Republican Conference.

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, it was reported that Lisa Murkowski had become only the second Senate candidate to win a write-in campaign.

2010: Lost Republican Primary, Won as Write-In

In 2010, Lisa Murkowski lost the Republican primary to Joe Miller but subsequently ran as a write-in candidate and won the general election against Miller and Scott McAdams.

2010: Won Senate Election

In 2010, Lisa Murkowski won 39.5% of the vote in the Senate election.

2015: Chair of Senate Committee

From 2015 to 2021, Lisa Murkowski chaired the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

2016: Re-elected to Senate

In 2016, Lisa Murkowski was re-elected to the Senate after securing the Republican Party nomination.

2016: Won Senate Election

In 2016, Lisa Murkowski won 44.4% of the vote in the Senate election.

2017: Filed for Re-election

Lisa Murkowski filed to run for a fourth term in 2017.

January 6, 2021: Murkowski Calls for Trump's Resignation

On January 6, 2021, after the attack on the United States Capitol, Murkowski called for President Trump's resignation for inciting the insurrection, making her the first Senate Republican to do so.

September 30, 2021: Murkowski Votes to Avoid Government Shutdown

On September 30, 2021, Murkowski was among 15 Senate Republicans who voted with Democrats and Independents for a temporary spending bill to avoid a government shutdown.

2021: Vice Chair of Senate Committee

Since 2021, Lisa Murkowski has served as vice chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

February 5, 2022: Murkowski Condemns RNC Censure

On February 5, 2022, Murkowski joined Governor Asa Hutchinson in condemning the Republican National Committee's censure of Representatives Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney.

2022: Re-election Campaign

In 2022, Lisa Murkowski ran for reelection with support from Democratic colleagues and Independent Senator Angus King.

2022: Won Senate Election

In 2022, Lisa Murkowski won 53.7% of the vote in the Senate election.

2022: Won Reelection Against Tshibaka

In 2022, Lisa Murkowski won reelection by beating Kelly Tshibaka, receiving 53.7% of the vote after the ranked-choice tabulation.

2022: Re-elected to the Senate

Lisa Murkowski was reelected in 2022.

2024: Murkowski Co-Authors Legislation to Ban Octopus Farming

In 2024, Murkowski and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse co-authored legislation to ban the commercial farming of octopuses, citing concerns relating to octopus intelligence and animal rights.