Trump slams Murkowski over Alaska ranked-choice voting as Senate race heats up

President Donald Trump escalated his criticism of Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, branding her the worst member of the Senate and accusing her of supporting a “total Democrat scam” in the form of ranked-choice voting. In posts on Truth Social, he urged Alaskans to reject the voting method by supporting Ballot Measure 2, which would repeal it, and praised his administration’s financial contributions to the state. Trump also defended a Justice Department lawsuit that seeks to halt certification of the Senate race if incumbent Dan Sullivan does not win, arguing that a similarly named Republican candidate could mislead voters.

The lawsuit targets the presence of Daniel J. Sullivan on the ballot, described by the administration as a “decoy.” While Trump backs Sullivan against Democrat Mary Peltola, Murkowski dismissed the federal action as unnecessary interference. The dispute has national implications, as control of the Senate could hinge on the outcome.