Tibac from Alaska: McConnell’s millions “would be better spent in other states”

Kelly Cibaka, a Republican from Alaska who is supported by ex President Trumpblame the Senate minority Leader Mitch McConnell for her failure to unseat centrist GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski this election cycle.

Tsybaka, a former Alaska state official, conceded the contest Wednesday after the final rounds of vote counting showed Murkowski winning. The race took several weeks Rating-choice of Alaska voting system, a process in which voters choose their preferred candidates in order, and the vote share is distributed between the top two after a elimination process.

While Tsybaka blamed ranked-choice voting for her loss, calling the system disappointing and an “incumbent protection program,” she also said McConnell bears some responsibility.

“It’s unfortunate that Sen. Mitch McConnell spent millions of dollars in this race on deceptive advertising to secure what he wanted — a Senate minority he could control, as opposed to a majority he couldn’t,” she said. “Donors’ money would be better spent in other states to elect more Republicans to secure a majority in the Senate.”

ALASKA SEN. LISA MURKOWSKA RE-ELECTED TO THE US SENATE OVER CANDIDATE KELLY CIBAK

Tsybaka said her defeat by Murkowski was just “another victory for Washington, D.C. insiders who rarely have our best interests at heart.”

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The Alaska contest was seen by many as a proxy battle between McConnell and Trump. The former president sought to punish Murkowski for voting to convict him after he was impeached for allegedly inciting the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

“It is very unfortunate that Sen. Mitch McConnell spent millions of dollars in this race on false advertising to get what he wanted,” said Kelly Tibaka.
(PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

“She’s a complete creature of the Washington swamp, but much worse than that and a tool of a corrupt establishment the likes of which we’ve never seen,” Trump said of Murkowski during a July rally in Alaska. “Fake media loves her.”

McConnell, who in January is set to become the longest-serving Senate leader in history, is behind Murkowski. The move was largely in keeping with Kentucky Republicans’ well-known practice of endorsing incumbents.

“I am honored that Alaskans — of every region, background, and party affiliation — have once again expressed their confidence in me to continue working with them and on their behalf in the United States Senate,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski.
(re-election campaign of Lisa Murkowski)

A super PAC linked to McConnell and other political groups has spent heavily to support Murkowski. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, outside groups spent nearly $7 million attacking Tszybaku and just over $6 million on positive ads highlighting Murkowski’s accomplishments.

Murkowski said her victory was based on building a diverse coalition of Republicans, independents and even some Democrats.

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“I am honored that Alaskans — of all regions, backgrounds and party affiliations — have once again expressed their confidence in me to continue to serve with them and on their behalf in the U.S. Senate,” she said. “I look forward to continuing the important work that lies ahead.”