Lisa Ann Murkowski /mɜːrˈkaʊskiː/ (born May 22, 1957) is the senior United States Senator from Alaska and member of the Republican Party. She has served in the Senate since 2002. Murkowski became the state's senior senator on January 3, 2009, when Democrat Mark Begich, who had defeated Alaska's senior senator Ted Stevens in November 2008, took office. Murkowski is the second most senior Republican woman in the Senate. Along with Susan Collins of Maine, she is frequently described as one of the most moderate Republicans in the Senate and is a crucial swing voter.
