Lisa Murkowski certified as winner of Senate race in Alaska

Lisa Murkowski was certified as the winner of the Senate race in Alaska on Thursday, ending two months of legal wrangling over the seat she has held since 2002.

Murkowski has scheduled a swearing-in reception on Jan. 5 in Washington, according to her website.

Murkowski will become the first senator to be elected in a write-in campaign since Strom Thurmond in 1954.

Joe Miller, a “tea party” movement favorite, won the GOP primary over Murkowski in August, forcing the incumbent to wage her successful write-in campaign. Miller has unsuccessfully sued the state over his loss. He is planning a news conference to announce whether he will pursue any further appeals.

Murkowski is expected to caucus with Republicans, though she has recently taken positions at odds with the conservative wing of her party in the Senate.

In the recently complete lame-duck session, Murkowski voted to ratify the new arms-control pact with Russia and for repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law that barred gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military.

Murkowski was appointed to the Senate by her father, Gov. Frank Murkowski, in 2002. She ran for her first full term in 2004.

michael.muskal@latimes.com

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