Alaska senators resign GOP posts after denouncing Trump

Alaska’s two senators have resigned from leadership posts in their state’s Republican Party after denouncing Donald Trump, according to a new report.

Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan voluntarily stepped down over the weekend as honorary members of their party’s state central committee, The Associated Press said Wednesday.

{mosads}The AP said it confirmed the pair’s decision Tuesday with Murkowski campaign spokesman Robert Dillon. Party officers are expected to back party candidates.

The unusual move follows several GOP officers in Alaska resigning their posts last month to publicly back Republican-turned-Libertarian Joe Miller in his bid to replace Murkowski in this fall’s Senate race.

Murkowski and Sullivan both sharply criticized Trump last weekend following the release of a controversial recording of the billionaire.

The 2005 tape captures Trump discussing his failed sexual advances on a married woman and grabbing women’s genitals without consent.

“I cannot and will not support Donald Trump for president,” Murkowski tweeted last Saturday, one day after the tape’s emergence. “He has forfeited the right to be our party’s nominee.”

“I will continue to campaign for Republican candidates across Alaska and the country,” Sullivan said in his own statement after the footage’s emergence.

“Keeping Republicans in the Senate majority is critical to the economic and national security of Alaska and America. As for the White House, Donald Trump should step aside. I will support [Republican vice presidential nominee] Gov. Mike Pence for president.”

Murkowski seems in little trouble of being defeated in her reelection bid.

The same poll found Trump leading Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton by 3 points in Alaska.

Trump’s lewd remarks have divided Republicans, with some now calling for his exit from the White House race less than a month from Election Day.