President Biden’s choice for Interior secretary presents a dilemma for Alaska’s Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, pitting a long-held political goal against one of her base constituencies, according to APM.

Deb Haaland, a Laguna Pueblo tribal member from New Mexico, would be the first Indigenous cabinet secretary. Alaska Native leaders have mounted a big campaign to confirm her. However, Haaland has been an outspoken opponent of oil development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Selling drilling rights in the refuge is one of Murkowski’s biggest achievements.

At Haaland’s confirmation hearing Tuesday, Murkowski acknowledged how significant it would be to have a Native American lead Interior. She didn’t directly confront Haaland’s environmental stance.

Haaland’s hearing in the Senate Energy Committee continues Wednesday.