Democrats mull support for Lisa Murkowski amid primary challenge from the right

As Alaska GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski battles a primary challenge from a Trump-backed opponent, Alaskan and national Democrats alike mull throwing their support behind the moderate Republican.

Alaska' senior senator faces reelection in November, but must first overcome a primary challenge from the Trump-backed Kelly Tshibaka in late August.

Democrats, meanwhile, worried that a Murkowski defeat would mean the loss of a sometime-ally and her replacement with GOP stalwart Tshibaka, consider throwing their support directly to Murkowski while Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin, W-Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, Ariza., have both already endorsed her for reelection.

“She’s an overall badass. The Senate needs more leaders like Lisa, and I’m proud to support her,” Sinema said, according to Politico. Manchin, her first cross-isle endorsement, was unequivocal, saying "whatever I can to help Lisa Murkowski."

Murkowski is a pro-choice Republican who opposed confirming Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and to impeach President Donald Trump, has regularly taken flak from the Republican Party's more conservative base. She previously defeated a Republican effort to oust her in 2010. She lost the primary election, but claimed ultimate victory with a write-in campaign.

While Manchin and Sinema both rank among the moderates within their party, more hard-line Democrats have also offered supportive words to Murkowski, though they have stopped shy of directly endorsing her.

“She’s a friend. And I think it would be a loss for Alaska if she were no longer serving in the Senate," Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz said, per Politico.

“I hope she’s going to come back,” said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, NH. “I told her I’d be happy to campaign for her, if she thought that helped.”

Murkowski, for her part, has welcomed her across the isle supporters, saying "as long as I'm winning."