Lisa Murkowski

Last Thursday evening, Sen. Lisa Murkowski gave a masterclass on how to campaign with positivity for one’s preferred candidate. Appearing at an event put on by Women for Dan, she was stumping for her friend and colleague in the U.S. Senate, Dan Sullivan. They have been working together for the betterment of Alaska for 12 years. Sen. Murkowski pointed out that from the moment he was elected in 2014, Dan Sullivan understood that, together, they must complement each other in order to put Alaska in the best position possible.

Sen. Murkowski emphasized the need to “keep the team together.” She talked about how our congressional delegation is small but mighty and how hard she and Sen. Sullivan fight in unison for our state. She compared their work together to a sled dog team, all pulling together to move Alaska forward. Anyone who has watched the Iditarod knows what that means: The dogs don’t compete with one another. They pull in the same direction, or the sled doesn’t move. That is exactly why Dan Sullivan is the right choice for Alaska. He is a proven member of a U.S. Senate team that delivers. This is no time to swap out a lead dog.

This teamwork is by design. Sens. Murkowski and Sullivan have intentionally and strategically divided their committee work so that, between them, Alaska’s priorities are covered. This is the same approach she and Sen. Ted Stevens took.

Twelve years ago, when Dan Sullivan arrived in Washington, Sen. Murkowski was already leading Alaska on energy, so he set out to build strength where the state needed it next. He made commerce his focus, fighting to protect the fisheries that sustain our coastal communities. A U.S. Marine himself, he made national security a priority too, and that work has helped bring a historic military buildup to Alaska, along with the jobs, investment and strategic standing that come with it. Sen. Murkowski, from her seat on the Appropriations Committee, helps secure the funding that turns those wins into results on the ground for Alaskans. She pointed out that Sen. Sullivan didn’t just join a team; he made the team stronger.

Alaska depends more than most states on what its U.S. senators can accomplish in Washington. Alaska is a young state with a small population, vast federal lands and needs that look drastically different from those of the rest of the country. With only three votes in Congress, Alaska cannot afford a delegation that works against itself. Seniority, relationships and committee seats take years to build, and they are what give Alaska a strong voice. Our senators complement each other remarkably well. They don’t compete for credit; they work together to get across the finish line. As Sen. Murkowski put it, “We’re all pulling to get to the same place.”

Sen. Murkowski knows Dan Sullivan well; she described him as a good man who loves his family and loves his country. This is the Dan Sullivan Alaskans see in his work and his service to our state. When a colleague such as Sen. Murkowski, who has worked beside him for more than a decade and who has never been shy about speaking her mind, vouches for his character, Alaskans should listen.

We all know that election season is in full swing. Our mailboxes are stuffed with fliers. Our phones ring constantly with people reminding us to vote or asking us to complete surveys. Our screens are filled with ads. It can feel overwhelming enough that we want to turn away. Don’t turn away! The future of our state is at stake, and Republicans, center-right voters and center-left voters should come together to support our team in Washington that has worked with us and for us to deliver real results.

This team has delivered for Alaska. For 12 years, Sens. Murkowski and Sullivan have pulled in the same direction, protecting our fisheries, strengthening our military presence and bringing home the resources our communities depend on. That kind of partnership takes years to build and cannot be replaced overnight. Breaking it up now would only hurt Alaskans. Let’s keep this team pulling together for Alaska. Vote for Dan S. Sullivan on Nov. 3.

Ann Brown is a retired attorney and a former chairman of the Alaska Republican Party.

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