“A special election as wide-open as Alaska,” the editorial board of the Anchorage Daily News declared.
Voting in Alaska’s special election primary to replace the late Rep. Don Young (R) will close Saturday as four dozen candidates — including former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin — face off under unusual new rules. With celebrity status and an endorsement from former president Donald Trump, Palin is the most prominent candidate in a crowded field. But her popularity in Alaska has faded since her time as governor, and a new ranked-choice voting system — designed to elect candidates with broad support — could complicate her bid. The Alaska Republican Party, meanwhile, has endorsed Nick Begich III, a former campaign co-chair for Young from a family well-known in state Democratic politics. He launched his bid before Young’s death and ran as the more conservative candidate.
“Will America pursue celebrity, what you might call a celebritocracy?” Begich said in an interview Friday. “Or will America pursue sound policy, thoughtful policy and representation that aligns with that?”
Palin’s campaign did not respond to requests for an interview or comment. Young’s sudden death at 88 in March set off a scramble to fill Alaska’s lone seat in the House. In addition to former campaign staffers for Young, the field includes and a self-described democratic socialist from the town of North Pole who legally changed his name to Santa Claus.
“A special election as wide-open as Alaska,” the editorial board of the Anchorage Daily News declared. Alaska has reliably favored Republicans for federal office in recent years. But the state also has more undeclared or nonpartisan voters than registered Republicans and Democrats combined, and longtime Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski is a key swing vote in Congress. Alaskans voted to do away with traditional party primaries in 2020, underscoring their independent political streak. Now, four candidates will advance from a round of pick-one voting regardless of party. The special election primary will be conducted largely by mail, though there are some in-person voting locations — so results may be slow to come in.
