Howard Dean Invites GOP's Lisa Murkowski to Become a Democrat

Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska would be welcomed into the Democratic Party if she ever decides to leave the GOP.

Dean's comments came in an early morning tweet on Thursday:

Lisa Murkowski would be welcomed as a Moderate Democrat!! What has Trump ever done for Alaska? https://t.co/1op0KUXJkm

— Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) July 27, 2017

President Donald Trump was critical of Murkowski for not voting for the Republic healthcare measures, The Hill reports.

And Trump tweeted on Wednesday:

Senator @lisamurkowski of the Great State of Alaska really let the Republicans, and our country, down yesterday. Too bad!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017

Following the president's tweet, Murkowski received a call from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke letting her know the vote had put the state's future with the Trump administration at risk, the Alaska Dispatch News reports.

For her part, Murkowski said: "We're here to govern. We're here to legislate. We're here to represent the people that sent us here."

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• Trump: Sen. Murkowski 'Really Let Republicans Down' Over Healthcare