Senate Republican Weighs Bailing On Party Amid Repeated Clashes With Trump: Open to ‘Exploring Something Different’

A more moderate Republican senator who has repeatedly clashed with President Donald Trump is keeping the door open on potentially leaving the party.

In numerous media interviews on Monday to promote her new book, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) entertained the possibility of bailing on the GOP. One of those interviews was conducted by former FiveThirtyEight podcaster Galen Druke on his GD Politics show. In it, Murkowski refused to quell speculation that she could jump ship, but did say she has fundamental disagreements with Democrats.

“Challenged as I think we may be on the Republican side, I don’t see the Democrats being much better,” Murkowski said. “They’ve got not only their share of problems, but quite honestly, they’ve got some policies that I just inherently disagree with.”

So Druke followed up by asking whether Murkowski would consider going Independent — should the GOP lose three seats in the 2026 midterm elections, thus putting Democrats in control of the chamber.

“There may be that possibility,” she said, adding, “There is some openness to exploring something different than the status quo.”

In an interview with Semafor, Murkowski said, “Have I considered [switching parties]? Yes, because I’ve been asked the question.”

She added, “Do I feel that within my Republican conference, I always feel like I’m right here in my political home? No. There are sometimes directions and policies that I disagree with.”

Murkowski has clashed with Trump and broken from her Republican colleagues repeatedly in recent years. In her new book, she writes that the “so-called MAGA movement” is a “personality cult that has ripped us apart.”

Watch above, via GD Politics.