Lisa Murkowski

In the 2022 Senate race for AK Senate seat, Lisa Murkowski (R) won with 53.7% of the vote, defeating Kelly C. Tshibaka (R) who received 46.3%. 7 additional candidates split the remaining vote. Lisa Murkowski's 7.4-point lead over the runner-up showed solid but not overwhelming support.

This was an open-seat race with no incumbent running — Dan Sullivan (R) previously held the seat. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. As a Republican, Lisa Murkowski benefited from the historical midterm penalty against the president's party — with a Democrat in the White House, the opposition typically gains seats. This seat will likely stay on party watch lists as potentially competitive in future cycles.

In the 2016 Senate race for AK Senate seat, Lisa Murkowski (R) won with 44.4% of the vote, defeating Joe Miller (L) who received 29.2%. 4 additional candidates split the remaining vote. Lisa Murkowski's 15.2-point advantage over the runner-up confirmed a comfortable win.

This was an open-seat race. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. The 2016 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket.