ANCHORAGE, Alaska — U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski sets herself apart in the Senate as one of few Republicans openly supporting abortion access — and she is the only one facing reelection this year, making it a key issue in Alaska’s U.S. Senate race.
On June 24, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 case that guaranteed federal protections for abortion access. The decision sparked protests across Alaska from abortion rights advocates, while opponents of the procedure cheered.
It has also led to renewed scrutiny of Murkowski’s long record on reproductive rights, including voting to confirm two of the justices who were instrumental in the decision to overturn Roe. Now, she says she took them at their word when they indicated to her that Roe was “settled” law.
