Murkowski wins reelection in Alaska Senate campaign

She
was forced to pursue a write-in campaign after conservatives, including
her political rival, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R), backed
Miller in his successful primary challenge to Murkowski. Republican
leaders had lined up behind Miller and stripped Murkowski of her
leadership position in the Senate. 

Murkowski hopes — and has said she expects — to retain the top slot on the energy panel in the next Congress.

{mosads}The election is a blow to
Palin’s political influence in her home state, where she’s feuded with
the Murkowski family in the past. Palin won the governorship after
besting Murkowski’s father, Gov. Frank Murkowski, in a 2006 Republican
primary.

The Alaska senator appears to have made peace with many
Senate GOP leaders, who believed their colleague might have a good
chance of returning to Congress. She’s shown somewhat of a cold
shoulder, though, toward Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), who backed Miller.

“He has suggested that he’s got some making up to do,” Murkowski told CNN last week. “I’ll let him make that first move.”

Murkowski is traveling back to Alaska, where she has scheduled a press conference for later today.

She was ahead by more than 10,000 votes over Tea Party favorite Miller
and the number of contested write in ballots were not enough
for Miller to make up the gap.

So far, however, there has been no word of an official concession from Miller.

Miller had been demanding a hand recount of the more than 250,000 votes cast in the race.

The
Miller campaign has continually raised concerns over the ballot
counting process, questioning the impartiality of the state division of
elections and of Lt. Gov. Craig Campbell, who plays a leading role in
overseeing the process.