The Republican governor of Alaska, Mike Dunleavy accepted Donald Trump’s endorsement Thursday on the condition that he will not endorse Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) for re-election in 2022.
“Please tell the president thank you for the endorsement,” Dunleavy said in a statement. “With regard to the other issue, please tell the president he has nothing to worry about. I appreciate all 45 has done for Alaska and this country.”
Trump is targeting Murkowski in next year’s midterm elections because she voted to convict him in his impeachment trial earlier this year after his supporters stormed the Capitol.
“This is why Mike Dunleavy of Alaska has been, and will be, a great Governor,” Trump said.
This comes after Trump released a statement on Tuesday outlining to Gov. Dunleavy, who is up for re-election in 2022, the conditions for his endorsement.
“Alaska needs Mike Dunleavy as Governor now more than ever. He has my Complete and Total Endorsement but, this endorsement is subject to his non-endorsement of Senator Lisa Murkowski who has been very bad for Alaska,” Trump said.
“In other words, if Mike endorses her, which is his prerogative, my endorsement of him is null and void, and of no further force or effect!” Trump added.
Murkowski is the only one out of the seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump during the second impeachment trial in the Senate that is up for reelection. Trump has endorsed Alaska’s former commissioner of administration Kelly Tshibaka to run against her in the Republican primary.
Murkowski was censured by the Alaska GOP for her vote to convict Trump.
