Rare write-in victory for Murkowski in Alaska Senate election

Lisa Murkowski has won a uncommon write-in victory in the Alaska U.S. Senate race. Miller has sued over the vote, however his lawsuit may end up coming to naught. Murkowski already has a clear lead and will take the Alaska Senate seat.

Lisa Murkowski wins a write-in victory that is rare

There are a few ballots still to be counted, but Lisa Murkowski has emerged the clear winner of the Alaska Senate election, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Joe Miller campaign has not conceded the election and, despite a promise to do this if the Alaska vote count swung Murkowski’s way, may keep contesting it. Miller has already filed a federal lawsuit disputing about 8,000 ballots, and especially interpretations of those ballots. Since Murkowski leads with 10,000 right now, the lawsuit may be fairly pointless. Murkowski will still win if all the votes are thrown out and she has any kind of victory. This is bad news for Miller.

The Tea Party ‘refudiated’ in Palin's Alaska

Even with the 8,000 contested votes not counting, Murkowski is in the lead by about 2,000 votes. Miller might be hoping for a recount. Until an official count is announced, he can't request one. Unless Murkowski is totally disqualified, Alaska voters have "refudiated" a Sarah Palin-backed candidate in her home state. Before the Republican primary Alaska gubernatorial race in 2006, Palin ousted Lisa Murkowski and her father which now means that the Tea Party and Sarah Palin, who backed Joe Miller, have now been slapped within the face with this defeat. Palin didn't even finish her term. Half way through she left.

Win unlikely

Within the last 56 years, the Senate election hasn't been won by a write-in candidate until now with Murkowski. Storm Thurmond in 1954 was the last person to do this. Because of the lawsuit and possible requested recount, she is probably not able to take her position right away. It might take just a little while.

Citations

LA Times

latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-murkowski-wins-senate-20101117,0,7076827.story