History of Lisa Murkowski in Timeline

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

May 22, 1957: Lisa Murkowski Born

On May 22, 1957, Lisa Ann Murkowski was born in Ketchikan, Alaska.

Others born on this day/year

1980: Graduated from Georgetown University

In 1980, Lisa Murkowski earned a B.A. degree in economics from Georgetown University and represented Alaska as the Cherry Blossom Princess.

1985: Graduated from Willamette University

In 1985, Lisa Murkowski received her J.D. degree from Willamette University College of Law.

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.

July 2007: Murkowski to Sell Back Land

In July 2007, Murkowski announced she would sell back land she bought from Anchorage businessman Bob Penney after a Senate ethics complaint alleged the property was sold below market value.

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.

August 24, 2010: Lost Republican Primary

On August 24, 2010, Lisa Murkowski trailed Joe Miller in the Republican Party primary election, with absentee ballots yet to be tallied.

August 29, 2010: Libertarian Party Rejection

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, it was reported that Lisa Murkowski had become 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, 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.

2010: Voting Record Post 2010

Since Lisa Murkowski's reelection in 2010, some have described her voting record as "more moderate" than in her previous years in the Senate.

2013: Voting Record with President Obama

In 2013, Lisa Murkowski voted with President Barack Obama's position 72.3% of the time, according to CQ Roll Call.

2013: National Journal Composite Score

In 2013, the National Journal gave Lisa Murkowski a composite score of 56% conservative and 45% liberal, ranking her as the 56th most liberal and 44th most conservative member of the Senate.

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: Ranked as Second-Most Liberal Republican

In 2017, The New York Times ranked Lisa Murkowski as the second-most liberal Republican senator.

2017: Filed for Re-election

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

2018: Second Most Liberal Republican Senator

According to GovTrack, as of 2018, Lisa Murkowski was the second-most liberal Republican senator.

2018: Murkowski's Net Worth

As of 2018, Murkowski's net worth was reported to be more than $1.4 million, according to OpenSecrets.org.

2018: Opposed Kavanaugh Nomination

In 2018, Lisa Murkowski opposed Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination.

2018: Stated Opposition to Kavanaugh

In 2018, Lisa Murkowski stated her opposition to the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

June 2020: Trump Pledged to Support Challenger

In June 2020, former President Donald Trump pledged to support a Republican challenger to Lisa Murkowski due to her opposition to some of his initiatives.

December 2020: Trump Vetoes National Defense Authorization Act

In December 2020, President Trump vetoed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, which Murkowski criticized, stating it was unrelated to national defense.

2020: Voted Against Accelerating 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, Murkowski called for President Trump's resignation for inciting the insurrection, making her the first Senate Republican to do so.

January 2021: Voting Record with President Trump

As of January 2021, according to FiveThirtyEight, Lisa Murkowski had voted in accordance with President Donald Trump's position approximately 72.6% of the time.

February 2021: Voted to Convict Trump, Censured by Alaska GOP

In February 2021, Lisa Murkowski was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial, leading to her censure by the Alaska Republican Party.

June 18, 2021: Trump Endorsed Tshibaka

On June 18, 2021, Donald Trump endorsed Kelly Tshibaka for the Senate in 2022, calling her "MAGA all the way".

July 10, 2021: Alaska Republican Party Endorsed Tshibaka

On July 10, 2021, the Alaska Republican Party endorsed Kelly Tshibaka.

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: 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 during his second impeachment trial.

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.

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, joining only two other Republicans.

2022: Re-election Campaign

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

2022: Supported Jackson Nomination

In 2022, Lisa Murkowski supported Ketanji Brown Jackson's Supreme Court nomination.

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.

January 2023: Voting Record with President Biden

As of January 2023, according to FiveThirtyEight, Lisa Murkowski had voted with President Joe Biden's position about 67% of the time.

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.