Murkowski announces she will vote against Hegseth

[demmiblue]

Source: The Hill

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced Thursday afternoon that she will vote against Pete Hegseth, President Trump’s nominee to serve as secretary of Defense, citing his past infidelity and allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking.

Murkowski in a statement posted to X said she had “significant concerns” about his nomination.

She said that managing the Pentagon “requires vast experience and expertise” and that Hegseth’s prior career roles “do not demonstrate to me that he is prepared for such immense responsibility.”

She also cited the numerous allegations of misconduct against Hegseth.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5102952-lisa-murkowski-pete-hegseth/

[50 Shades Of Blue]

1. Good for her!

[GB_RN]

2. She's Got More Cajones...

Than all the Senate GOPQ-ball males put together. SAD!!

[Jose Garcia]

10. Alaska's quirky election system makes her much less vulnerable to

a primary challenge compared to most other Republicans.

[BOSSHOG]

23. Sad that that would be a consideration

Do the right thing. If you don’t get re-elected, you can hold your head up high. Integrity just about on empty in the gop.

[dsc]

24. actually she lost a primary under Obama

2014 I think, but turned around and ran in the general as an independent write in and won.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

29. Does their new-ish ranked choice system change the equation? Do they still have it?

[dsc]

31. they still have it

and it does prevent her from losing a primary outright. But she has shown she still can win. I am not a fan of her overall but she has shown that she can and will stand up to him.

[Jose Garcia]

57. They didn't have ranked choice voting in 2014. They do now

Voters approved in 2020.

[quakerboy]

46. no, she doesnt.

If there weren't enough gop senators to pass him, she'd be voting for him.

It's all about propeganda.

[NoRethugFriends]

51. Not necessarily. That is true with Collins though

[Escurumbele]

53. Let's see how big her cojones are after the parade of republicans talk to her, after listening to their

threats.

If she is going to vote against him, then keep it quiet until voting time because you know GOPers will threaten her, maybe even with rape, and they will try to make her life miserable, so just shut up, then vote against the guy.

[EYESORE 9001]

3. Outstanding

Make the rest of the goopers justify their steadfast support for the reprobate.

[Emile]

4. Need three more to join her.

[demmiblue]

9. Sadly...

emptywheel
@emptywheel.bsky.social‬

From Xitter, here's Lisa Murkowski's statement opposing Hegseth. She did say she believes he'll be confirmed (but likely w/Vance's vote).

From Xitter, here's Lisa Murkowski's statement opposing Hegseth. She did say she believes he'll be confirmed (but likely w/Vance's vote).

— emptywheel (@emptywheel.bsky.social) 2025-01-23T18:53:47.968Z

FFS.

[demmiblue]

5. Full statement:

[JustAnotherGen]

6. I still think he passes

And gets voted in.

[Miguelito Loveless]

7. So, Collins will vote for him

since he has "learned his lesson"?

[Polybius]

11. I don't think she will

She's up for reelection next year.

[FoxNewsSucks]

15. Just heard on the TV that Collins is also a "no"

She must be REALLY SUPER DUPER EXTRA concerned!

[MLAA]

18. She is a no until she isn't! I'll believe it when I see it. But, yes, she is extremely concerned!

My first thought was it was prearranged that she and Murkowski can vote no and every other Republican will vote yes.

Edit to correct typo.

[Ray Bruns]

19. That's why she's called "Windsock" Suzy

[MLAA]

34. ...perfect fit. More than once I've wanted to tell her to shove a sock in it when she starts saying she has 'concerns'

that never result in her going against her party.

[Lulu KC]

37. You just never know with her

Anxiety source! They need to have two more--one in case Collins chickens out.

[Miguelito Loveless]

47. Wow.

Somebody so horrible that even Collins won't support him.

[Polybius]

52. I think there's at least 4 pics that she won't vote for

Hegseth, Tulsi, RFK, and Kash Patel. Possibly Linda McMahon too.

[Buddyzbuddy]

8. They'll be coming after her and anybody else

that resists the tyrant. Our Democratic Senators must help persuade her to change parties if she wants to make a difference in the next 4 years. That goes for any other Senators and members of Congress that have any integrity left.

[Fla Dem]

12. Gutsy Woman! Let's see if any Republican Men will step up.

[tinymontgomery]

20. That's pretty funny

That's pretty funny, republican men stepping up. They're one of the biggest group of cowards I've
ever seen. Even the one's that served are cowards at this point.

[SheltieLover]

13. Good

[berniesandersmittens]

14. Good. Now switch parties. Nt

[chowder66]

16. I hope I'm wrong in that they probably have the votes needed which allows one or more to vote against him.

[Bobstandard]

17. I bet she folds. nt

[Wiz Imp]

26. Murkowski? Nope. She definitely ain't voting for Hegseth.

Unlike Joni Ernst, she has some integrity and it was clear that from the day Hegseth was chosen for the position, Murkowski was clearly disgusted by the pick and was never going to vote for him.

[Bluethroughu]

28. The vote I saw was earnst and murkowski voted for him.

[Wiz Imp]

30. You saw wrong.

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00014.htm

Murkowski (R-AK), Nay
Collins (R-ME), Nay

[Bluethroughu]

40. Thanks, I must have looked at maybe someone above

Or below...I was looking at the vote with everyone!

Thanks for the correction!

Good I'm glad she and Collins did not vote for him.

[RandomNumbers]

36. There was a vote to proceed to consider the nomination.

Murkowski voted Yea on that one, but Nay on cloture.

[Polybius]

39. The Senate has way to many archaic votes

There were already at least two on him so far. The only one that matters is the final vote tomorrow.

[Bluethroughu]

41. Thank you I must have seen that one!

[Bobstandard]

33. Wiz, I hope youre right. nt

[Polybius]

38. I'll take that bet

$1,000 says she sticks with voting against him.

[Bobstandard]

45. Is $Ivanka coin OK?

Or $ Barron coin. Yeah, that’s the ticket.

[Polybius]

48. Preferably, $Melania coin n/t

[Bobstandard]

56. OK. I'll bet one $Melania coin in lieu of $1,000 USD.

It’s worth $2,000. You’ll have to trust me on that. And if you win, you’ll have to send me the change in USD via Western Union to my address here on E Street, Washington DC. You’ll get a tax write off, support crippled children, and be eligible for software that will make your computer run 10 times faster. Did I say 10 times? I meant 100 times!

[RANDYWILDMAN]

21. Mitch, Lindsey and Tuberville

should all show us they have a backbone, they all claim too, but none of them really does.

They know Pete is terrible and can't do the job, but but but, who cares do you job and hire a competent person for once, you already promoted a lot of incompetence(partisan) people to the supreme court and you got loose cannon a seat she is clearly not qualified for....you owe your voters

[muriel_volestrangler]

22. 51 to 49 to advance to the final vote - Murkowski and Collins voted to block

Whether that will be the same on Friday, who knows?

[Daleuhlmann]

25. Good for Senator Murkowski!

Senator Murkowski is right: Hegsweth does not ahave the trustworthiness or the moral character to be confirmed for one of the most important of cabinet positions. He is a walking, talking national security risk and an easy target to be compromised because of his past behavior. Plus,
he simply does not have the experience or the qualifications to be Secretary of Defense.

[DENVERPOPS]

55. Putting him in charge of anything,

Is like the RepubliCONs, putting a bunch of monkeys in a room with a basket full of Hand Grenades..........

[Bluethroughu]

27. It said she voted for him??

[Rebl2]

32. That was

to advance the vote. Not the final vote.

[Bluethroughu]

42. Thanks I got it.

[wiggs]

35. These 'rebellious' votes are choreographed. She's allowed to vote that way because they counted

votes and hers doesn't matter.

I don't give her credit for it. She's protecting some position or some portion of voters, not standing up for principle IMHO. I will say she seems a bit more principles than Collins though they both fall back on voicing 'concerns' that never seem to influence votes that matter.

[live love laugh]

43. She plays the role of the opposition well,!

[milestogo]

44. She should change parties NOW.

[liberalla]

50. What a fine idea that is!

Do it! Do it!!!

[liberalla]

49. Thank You Senator Murkowski !!!

[Greybnk48]

54. This is the usual bullshit kabuki she and Collins pull so women still will vote for them.

The got the green light that their votes weren't needed. If they were needed, they would vote for the drunken pig.