JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, speaking with Alaska reporters Monday, toyed with the idea of running for governor and defended her recent high-profile decision to vote in support of President Donald Trump's tax breaks and spending cuts bill.
Murkowski, speaking from Anchorage, said “sure” when asked if she has considered or is considering a run for governor. She later said her response was “a little bit flippant” because she gets asked that question so often.
“Would I love to come home? I have to tell you, of course I would love to come home,” she said. “I am not making any decisions about anything, because my responsibility to Alaskans is my job in the Senate right now.”
Several Republicans already have announced plans to run in next year's governor's race, including Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom. Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy is not eligible to seek a third consecutive term. Alaska has an open primary system and ranked choice voting in general elections.
Murkowski is not up for reelection until 2028.
A centrist, Murkowski has become a closely watched figure in a sharply divided Congress. She has at times been at odds with her party in her criticism of Trump and blasted by some GOP voters as a “Republican in name only.” But her decision to support Trump's signature bill last month also frustrated others in a state where independents comprise the largest number of registered voters. She previously described her decision-making process around the bill as “agonizing.”
On Monday, she said it was clear to her the bill was not only a priority of Trump's but also that it was going to pass, so it became important to her to help make it as advantageous to the state as she could.
“So I did everything within my power — as one lawmaker from Alaska — to try to make sure that the most vulnerable in our state would not be negatively impacted,” she said. “And I had a hard choice to make, and I think I made the right choice for Alaskans.”
FILE - Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, arrives for a closed-door Republican meeting to advance President Donald Trump's sweeping domestic policy bill, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, June 27, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite,File)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, right, listens as the Senate Appropriations Committee marks up the FY2026 spending bill for the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transportation, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, July 24, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jimmy Butler had 32 points and eight rebounds, Stephen Curry warmed up in the second half to finish with 27 points and seven assists, and the Golden State Warriors beat the New York Knicks 126-113 on Thursday night.
Moses Moody scored 21 points with seven 3-pointers for the Warriors, while Brandin Podziemski had 19 points.
Deuce McBride and OG Anunoby each scored 25 points and Mikal Bridges had 21 as New York lost for the seventh time in nine games. The Knicks were without Jalen Brunson because of a sprained right ankle suffered in a 112-101 loss at Sacramento a night earlier.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points and a season-best 20 rebounds for New York. This has been a two-day reunion tour for Knicks first-year coach Mike Brown, fired by the Kings last season and also a former Warriors top assistant.
Curry missed his first four 3-point tries before connecting from deep with 9:44 left in the third quarter. It marked only the third time this season he didn't have a 3 in the first half and first since going 0 for 6 in the initial two quarters Dec. 22 against Orlando.
He scored five straight points midway through the fourth to give Golden State a 107-94 lead.
Moody shot 7 for 9 from deep for his sixth 20-point performance of the season, while Butler notched his second 30-point game in the last three and fifth overall. The Warriors had three scorers with 20 or more for the eighth time.
Draymond Green was issued a Flagrant 1 foul upon replay review with 11:01 left in the game for his trip of Towns from the floor.
Warriors reserve forward Gui Santos was helped off the court with 2:21 left in the first quarter after a collision with Josh Hart. Santos sprained his left ankle, with coach Steve Kerr and the medical staff rushing out to check on him at midcourt. Santos then limped to the locker room and didn't return.
Knicks: Host the Suns on Saturday night.
Warriors: Host the Hornets on Saturday night.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown gestures toward an official during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) is fouled by Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, rear, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson reacts after scoring and drawing a foul during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody (4) reacts after making a 3-point basket in front of New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Referee James Williams, left, reacts as Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) hugs New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the ball as forward Draymond Green (23) screens New York Knicks guard Miles McBride, middle, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
