Murkowski backs Haaland despite ‘misgivings’ about oil, gas restrictions for Alaska

Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski voted Thursday for President Biden’s interior secretary nominee, Rep. Deb Haaland, D-N.M., sending her nomination to the full Senate. 

Another Republican, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, has signaled she will vote to confirm Haaland, setting up a likely 52-48 successful confirmation.  "I’m going to place my trust in Rep. Haaland and her team despite some very real misgivings," Murkowski said before the Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday.  She said she had heard two differing sentiments from Alaskans on Haaland’s nomination to lead the Interior Department. On one hand, they were "enormously proud" to have a Native American nominated to the spot. "They believe Alaskan Native issues can be elevated to the highest level of government," she said. Haaland would be the first Native American Cabinet secretary in a position that oversees the nation's tribes.