In the recent U.S. House primary in Alaska, two candidates, Matthew Salisbury and John Wayne Howe, who collectively received a little over 1% of the vote, are set to advance to the ranked choice general election in November. This decision was revealed by the state Division of Elections on Friday. The field has already been narrowed down to include the leading contenders, Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola and Republican Nick Begich.
Alaska’s open primary system mandates that the top four candidates with the most votes, regardless of party affiliation, proceed to the general election. Peltola emerged as the top vote-getter in the August 20 primary, trailed by Begich and Republican Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, who had the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. Salisbury and Howe lagged far behind, leading the rest of the 12-candidate field.
Peltola, Begich, and Dahlstrom were the only candidates who reported raising funds for their campaigns. After Dahlstrom’s withdrawal last week, elections director Carol Beecher stated that this allowed the fifth-place candidate to secure a spot on the November ballot. The certification of the primary results was set to take place by Sunday, and candidates had until Monday to withdraw from the general election.
Peltola, who became the first Alaska Native in Congress in 2022 following the passing of Republican U.S. Rep. Don Young, has faced opposition from Begich, who opposes ranked choice voting and believes conservatives must unite to defeat Peltola in the upcoming election. The initiative to revoke the open primary and ranked vote general election system will also be on the ballot in the fall.
Salisbury, in his candidate statement, emphasized a need to ensure the voices of the people are heard and amplified in Washington, highlighting the importance of citizen representation. Howe, in his candidate statement, criticized the government for oppressing Alaskans, painting the federal government as an oppressive force.
The Alaskan Independence Party boasts nearly 18,900 registered voters, making it the third-largest among the four recognized political parties in the state, according to Division of Elections data. However, the majority of registered voters in Alaska do not align with any political party.