Alaska’s JUNEAU Alaska Libertarian U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski progressed from her primary along with Kelly Tshibaka, her Trump-backed GOP rival. Sarah Palin, a Trump-backed candidate for Alaska’s only House seat, also advanced.
Murkowski said earlier that “winning in November is what matters.” Tshibaka said the results “broke the Murkowski republic’s grip on Alaska.” Tshibaka thanked Trump for his “steadfast support” of Alaska.
In 1981, Murkowski became a senator. Her father, Frank Murkowski, was in the Senate before Lisa.
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The elimination of party primaries and the implementation of ranked-choice voting as the election method for the general election are both results of a voter-approved reform that is being implemented for the first time in Alaska elections this year. In a primary race, the candidates who finish in the top four positions, regardless of a political party, will move on to the general election.
It was too soon to determine who would win the other two seats in the Senate race.
Murkowski ended up voting to convict Trump after the January 6, 2021 insurrection. Trump got off. Last month in Anchorage, he called Murkowski “the worst.”
If Tshibaka’s only strength is Trump’s support, “What does that say about her in Alaska? Is she Trump’s rubber stamp? Not all Alaskans want that. Not these people. “
Kevin Durling, Tshibaka’s campaign co-chair, said Trump’s endorsement helped. He admired Tshibaka’s business and family values. He criticized Murkowski for voting for impeachment and supporting Deb Haaland’s nomination.
Mary Peltola, Sarah Palin, and Nick Begich won House primaries. Fourth place wasn’t decided yet. November’s winner will serve two years.
Peltola, Begich, and Palin were also running in a special election to finish Rep. Don Young’s term. March killed Young.
This was the first statewide election with ranked voting. The winner may not be known until Aug. 31. Peltola would be the first Alaska Native woman in the House.
Several write-in candidates ran in the special election, including Republican Tara Sweeney. Sweeney was the Trump administration’s assistant secretary for Indian Affairs.
The primary races for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, lieutenant governor, and legislative seats were on the other side of the ballot.
Palin called this “the first test case of the crazy, convoluted ranked-choice voting system.”
Ranked voting supporters say it encourages positive campaigning, but the House race has been harsh.
Begich, a businessman from a prominent Democratic family, has criticised Palin as a fame-seeker and a quitter. Palin resigned as governor in 2009.
In one Begich ad, the narrator mentions fires and COVID-19. The narrator says, “We can avoid Sarah Palin.”
Palin’s ad narrator calls Begich “negative Nick” and says she wants to “carry Don Young’s torch.”
Peltola, a former lawmaker who worked on a commission to rebuild Kuskokwim River salmon, portrays herself as a consensus builder.
She said being a good representative would help her “millionaire-less.” I’m a regular Alaskan and know the economic struggles firsthand. My priorities are Alaskans’. “
She said the special election results won’t be known for some time. “The election is approaching. We’ll build on this momentum to win in November. “
Alaska governors’ candidates Mike Dunleavy, Bill Walker, and Les Gara advanced. Fourth place wasn’t decided yet.
“Just the beginning,” Dunleavy and Dahlstrom issued a statement. We’ll analyze the numbers over the next few days to see where we need to strengthen our campaign, and we look forward to reaching every Alaskan and earning their vote by November. “
We Get the Source from: https://www.npr.org/sections/2022-live-primary-election-race-results/2022/08/17/1117838450/murkowski-advances-in-alaska-senate-race-palin-in-house
