Senate coalition, evenly split House again in the cards?
enough to go either way. Under ranked-choice voting the top four on the ballot, regardless of partisan affiliation, are listed on the November ballot. In all but one race, in a Fairbanks House district, there were four or fewer candidates, so voters will see the names again. In Fairbanks’ House District 35, the one race with five running, Kieran Brown was eliminated after placing fifth. Because of this, the primary was
really a kind of poll, and since few voters change their preferences in the two months-plus between Aug. 16 and Nov. 3, the likely November winners can be spotted, particular- ly if there is a big spread between the top vote-getter (usually an in- cumbent legislator) and the closest competitor. But November will be ranked- choice voting, where voters will indicate second, third and fourth choices, if there are that many on the ballot. Incumbents generally did well in both House and Senate races, but one notable exception is in the Mat-Su, where Republican Sen. Mike Shower trailed challenger Doug Massie, also Republican, in the primary. In Anchorage, Sen. Mia Costello, Republican, trailed her opponent, Matt Claman, a Democrat now in the House. Rep. Andy Josephson is in a tight race for reelection, trail- ing Republican Kathy Henslee by one vote in the primary. Reallocation of ranked-choice votes will decide these contests. Inevitably there will be a lot of new faces in Juneau. Several legis- lative veterans, like Democrats Rep. Chris Tuck and Ivy Spohnholz, are not running. Several House mem- bers are seeking Senate seats, like Reps. Kelly Merrick, Republican, of Eagle River, and Rep. Matt Claman, Democrat of Anchorage. One race to watch is the south Anchorage where incumbent Sen. Roger Holland faces a strong chal- lenge from Cathy Giessel, a former senator. Democrat Roselynn Cacy, also in that race, did surprising- ly well considering that the district leans Republican. Under ranked- choice all three appear again on the November ballot and this is one race where reallocated second and third choices may have an impact. It is too early to guess final out - comes with any accuracy but at this point it appears that the 40-mem- ber House may have 17 Republicans and nine Democrats, with five inde - pendents or nonpartisan legislators
Ranked-choice voting does not seem likely to change Senate, House division The Alaska Aug. 16 primary elec- tion gave a pretty clear indication as to who the ultimate winners in No- vember for many state House and Senate seats are likely to be, but a number of House races are close
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The Alaska Miner
Fall 2022
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