By SUZANNE DOWNING
Nov. 11, 2026 — Sen. Lisa Murkowski is warning Democrats that their midterm victory could backfire if they spend the next two years pursuing retribution against President Donald Trump instead of addressing Americans’ rising costs.
In a Nov. 4 interview with KNOM radio in Nome, the Alaska Republican acknowledged that the scale of Republican losses surprised her. She expected Republicans could lose the House, but did not anticipate losing the Senate majority.
“I do hope that the Democrats don’t view this as a mandate to retaliate,” Murkowski said.
The senator said voters are frustrated by partisan warfare and want Congress to address practical concerns, particularly energy bills and grocery prices.
“I hope that they don’t look at this and say the next two years we’re just gonna it’s gonna be daily retribution directed at Donald Trump,” said Murkowski, who has spent much political capital of her own attempting to block the president. She endorsed a Democrat — Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins — for governor of Alaska and in the past has supported Mary Peltola, another Democrat, in her bid for election to Congress.
Murkowski warned that a retaliatory approach could produce “maybe a red tsunami” in 2028. That happens to be the year her seat comes up for reelection; she has served since being appointed by her father in 2002.
Her comments came the day after the election, during a visit focused on Nome’s energy costs, housing and economic challenges. KNOM published the interview Nov. 5.
Murkowski said she had sensed frustration in Alaska over higher prices and a belief that Congress had failed to respond. But she had not understood the extent of that dissatisfaction nationally.
“It really did catch me by surprise,” she said of the election results.
Her prescription was a return to the political middle.
“We have got to get back to governing in the middle, and you all know this is where I feel pretty comfortable,” Murkowski told the station.
Asked whether senators were ready to change how they work together, Murkowski answered: “I don’t know.”
She described the election as a shockwave for Republicans and suggested Democrats were also trying to determine what to do with their newly won power.
The Republican defeat could also give Murkowski greater influence within her party over federal spending.
She acknowledged that Maine Sen. Susan Collins’ election loss would put her in a position of higher leadership on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Murkowski’s office subsequently confirmed to news organizations that she intends to seek the committee’s top Republican position in the next Congress. The position would give Alaska’s senior senator a stronger role in negotiating spending legislation with the incoming Democratic majority.
Murkowski said she wants to repair what she described as a broken congressional funding process and make Congress more responsive to constituents.
She contrasted lawmakers working on local priorities with those appearing on Sunday television programs to attack the other party.
“People are sick and tired of the back and forth, and not feeling like it has made their lives any better,” she said.
4 thoughts on “Murkowski warns Democrats against Trump retribution, sees possible ‘red tsunami’ in 2028”
Democrats will seek accountability AND address affordability.
They certainly didn’t address either when Biden was in office, what will be different now?
There are numerous reports in the DC “trade papers” that Sen Jerry Moran of Kansas, who is a moderate R, is feeling out Rs on challenging Lisa for the ranking position on appropriations.
Under the Senate Republican Conference rules a committee on committees determines the composition of the appropriations committee Republicans. Typically returning members return and the. committee on committees fills vacancies. resulting from the departure of former Senators. Those who are selected to serve on the appropriations committee then select the ranking member of the committee. Murkowski is senior to Moran. But that doesnt guarantee that she succeeds Collins. It is customary that the senior most is elevated, but not rule. The full Senate Republican Conference then has to confirm the committee’s recommendation.
I have seen similar reports. The relationships among Senators of the same party is complex. With the departure of Senator Collins and Senator Graham, Lisa has two fewer of her “sisterhood is powerful” colleagues. I have to think that her votes in recent years, have not made the Senator from Alaska very popular with her Republican colleagues. Based on the remaining Republican members and their states of origin, my money is on Senator Moran. The pork that Senator Murkowski imports very rarely benefits the average Alaskan anyway.