Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said in an interview she “absolutely” will not support Donald Trump in November’s presidential election and did not rule out that she might leave the Republican Party. 

“I wish that as Republicans, we had … a nominee that I could get behind,” Murkowski told CNN. “I certainly can’t get behind Donald Trump.”

A moderate Republican, Murkowski was one of seven GOP senators who voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial of inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. 

“I just regret that our party is seemingly becoming a party of Donald Trump,” she told CNN.

Asked about Trump calling those involved in Jan. 6 “patriots” and those serving prison time for storming the Capitol “hostages,” Murkowski said their actions were indefensible. 

“What happened on Jan. 6 was … an effort by people who stormed the building in an effort to stop an election certification of an election,” she said. “It can’t be defended.”

Spectrum News has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.

In the interview, Murkowski, who has served in the Senate since 2002, would not directly answer a question about whether she’s consider leaving the GOP to become an independent. 

“I am navigating my way through some very interesting political times,” she said. “Let’s just leave it at that.”

She told CNN she thinks she’s “very independent-minded.”

Indeed, Murkowski has at times broken with her party. In addition to voting to convict Trump, she has clashed with former Alaska Gov. and ex-vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, voted against confirming Trump pick Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and voted for confirming Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden.

Murkowski is also a rare Republican on Capitol Hill who supports abortion rights.

Her possible departure from the GOP could be a blow to Republicans as they try to retake control of the Senate in this year’s elections. Democrats currently control the chamber 51-49. 

Murkowski, 66, is not up for reelection until 2028.

Along with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Murkowski endorsed former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley for president four days before Super Tuesday. Haley dropped out of the race the morning after the primaries.