In Juneau, Alaska, voters took to the polls on Tuesday to participate in a pivotal election regarding the state’s only U.S. House seat, which plays a significant role in determining the balance of power in Congress. Additionally, voters were faced with the choice of whether to eliminate the state’s open primary and ranked-choice voting system just four years after its implementation.
Democratic Representative Mary Peltola was working hard to fend off Republican challenges aimed at reclaiming a seat that has been held by the GOP for 49 years, following the passing of long-serving Republican Rep. Don Young in 2022. Peltola’s main competitor was Republican Nick Begich, who hails from a notable Democratic family. Begich was also one of the candidates Peltola defeated in previous elections, making history as the first Alaska Native elected to Congress.
Apart from the repeal of the voting system, voters were also considering a proposal to increase the state’s minimum wage and mandate paid sick leave for a significant number of employees. This measure faced opposition from various groups, including several chambers of commerce and a seafood processing association.
In addition to the House race, 50 of the 60 seats in the state legislature were up for election, which could reshape control of both the House and Senate. The House has faced difficulties in organizing due to its closely divided nature, a situation not always determined strictly by party lines.
In the key House race, Peltola aimed to position herself away from national political debates by avoiding an endorsement from Vice President Kamala Harris, arguing that such an endorsement would not resonate in a state that last supported a Democratic presidential candidate nearly six decades ago. She emphasized her bipartisan approach and highlighted her success in persuading the Biden administration to authorize the significant Willow oil project, which has garnered extensive support across Alaska.
Begich, the founder of a software development firm, capitalized on his family’s legacy, being the grandson of the late Congressman Nick Begich. He received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump after his performance in the primary. Trump’s original endorsement went to Republican Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, who ultimately withdrew from the race due to pressure to consolidate support for a single GOP nominee after finishing third in the primary. Open primaries in Alaska allow the top four contenders to proceed to the general election, and other candidates such as Republican Matthew Salisbury withdrew, leaving independent candidate John Wayne Howe and imprisoned Democrat Eric Hafner still in the race.
Begich took aim at Peltola’s legislative effectiveness, challenging her on actions taken by the Biden administration that he claimed hinder resource development crucial to Alaska’s economy, specifically referencing the cancellation of oil and gas exploration leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Alaska is one of only two states employing ranked-choice voting, and should the repeal initiative succeed, it would be the first state to abolish such a system. In the 2020 elections, Alaskans narrowly voted for open primaries and ranked-choice elections in hopes of offering voters more options and promoting moderated political discourse. However, critics have labeled the process as convoluted.
Notable Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, who is known for her moderate stance and criticism of Trump, lent her support to the initiative to maintain the state’s current voting system through an advertisement. Opponents of ranked-choice voting and open primaries managed to gather sufficient signatures to place the repeal measure on the ballot, enduring a lengthy legal struggle to do so. Begich openly backed the repeal, aligning with the state Republican Party’s endorsement of the measure.