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'''Lisa Ann Murkowski''', born May 22, 1957 (age {{age|1957|5|22}}), is the senior [[United States]] [[U.S. Senator| Senator]] from [[Alaska]] and a member of the [[Republican Party]]. She is Alaska's first female senator and the first U.S. Senator born in Alaska. In 1998, Murkowski was elected to the Alaska [[House of Representatives]] and had been elected the House Majority Leader for the 2003–2004 session. In December of 2002, her father, Governor [[Frank Murkowski]], appointed her to a vacant seat in the United States Senate, resulting in charges of nepotism. In her 2004 reelection she was considered the [[Democrat]]s best chance to pick up a seat from an incumbent Republican. However, Murkowski was elected to a full six year term by a 49%-46% margin.  

'''Lisa Ann Murkowski''', born May 22, 1957 (age {{age|1957|5|22}}), is the senior [[United States]] [[U.S. Senator| Senator]] from [[Alaska]] and a member of the [[Republican Party]]. She is Alaska's first female senator and the first U.S. Senator born in Alaska. In 1998, Murkowski was elected to the Alaska [[House of Representatives]] and had been elected the House Majority Leader for the 2003–2004 session. In December of 2002, her father, Governor [[Frank Murkowski]], appointed her to a vacant seat in the United States Senate, resulting in charges of nepotism. In her 2004 reelection she was considered the [[Democrat|Democrats]] best chance to pick up a seat from an incumbent Republican. Murkowski was elected to a full six year term by a 49%-46% margin.  

In a stunning upset, she was defeated for renomination in 2010 by Tea Party favorite [[Joe Miller]]. Murkowski has announced that she will mount a write-in campaign to retain her Senate seat. <ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0910/42353.html</ref> The write-in campaign had many signs of ineptitude - for example, one Murkowski TV add ran with her name misspelled! Additionally, around 10% of votes cast for Murkowski had her name misspelled, pointing to an uneducated electoral base. Even though such votes should not be counted in her favor under current Alaska law, the state board of elections decided to look at "voter intent" instead and is counting most of them - this action is being contested by Republican challenger Joe Miller.  

In a stunning upset, she was defeated for renomination in 2010 by Tea Party favorite [[Joe Miller]]. Murkowski has announced that she will mount a write-in campaign to retain her Senate seat. <ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0910/42353.html</ref> The write-in campaign had many signs of ineptitude - for example, one Murkowski TV add ran with her name misspelled! Additionally, around 10% of votes cast for Murkowski had her name misspelled, pointing to an uneducated electoral base. Even though such votes should not be counted in her favor under current Alaska law, the state board of elections decided to look at "voter intent" instead and is counting most of them - this action is being contested by Republican challenger Joe Miller.