Alaskans can be a stubborn lot. In the election just passed, we restored Alaska's at-large seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to Republican control, electing Nick Begich III in a defeat for Democrat Mary Peltola. But the other issue that will have a big impact on Alaska's political scene was the repeal of ranked-choice voting (RCV) that failed by a whisker-thin 664 votes: 160,619 to 159,955, or 50.1% to 49.9%.
That's pretty close. The Alaska Republican Party has requested a recount, which the Dhillon Law Group will oversee.
It ain't over yet.
— Alaska GOP (@akgop) November 25, 2024
The Republican press release states in part:
The Alaska Republican Party will request a statewide recount and review of the election results for Ballot Measure 2 - the Repeal of Rank Choice VOting from the 2024 GEneral Election. We will submit this request, along with the names of the requisite Alaskan voters required to initiate this process, once the election is certified, which is scheduled for November 30, 2024.
Together with our partners at the Republican National Committee, the Alaska Republican Party has assembled a team to oversee this process. We have engaged the Dhillon Law Group, led by Harmeet K. Dhillon, to be on the ground during the recount and review, along with our Party Council and observers.
The Dhillon Law Group's principle was quick to weigh in, and Harmeet Dhillon is planning accordingly; the overnight temps are generally well below zero in early December here in the Great Land.
We @dhillonlaw @MikeColumboEsq are looking forward to helping with this critical recount! Thank you @ChairmanWhatley for all your support for election law issues!
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@pnjaban) November 25, 2024
Finally I get a chance to wear my heaviest winter coat, if I can find it in the back of the closet! #furcoat https://t.co/g48cGypPEV
Welcome to Alaska, Ms. Dhillon. You'll need that heavy coat - but if you're like most folks, be prepared to be entranced by the Alaskan landscape.
The pro-repeal campaign was massively outspent by the anti-repeal side, mostly by dark money from Outside. Despite this, the measure's margin was within Alaska's statutory range for a recount.
Although dark money from Outside Alaska overwhelmed proponents of the repeal, it ended up failing to be repealed by just 664 votes, a tiny margin.
Of the 340,110 votes cast on the measure, the margin of “No” votes to “Yes” votes was 160,619 to 159,955, or 50.1% to 49.9%. The state must cover the costs of a recount when the margin is this close.
The margin of this election is far too close to predict any outcome from the recall. RCV was on the ballets for several other states this year and failed everywhere but Alaska.
See Related: WINNING: Republican Nick Begich III Wins Alaska House At-Large Seat
Alaska's Final Vote Tally Is Done: Ranked-Choice Repeal Failed, But There Was Some Good News
Ranked Choice Voting Fails Bigly Almost Everywhere - Despite Backers Spending Big Bundles of Cash
Phil Izon, the main organizer of the Ballot Measure 2 initiative, is already organizing another ballot measure petition for 2026.
Alaskans are a stubborn lot. Those of us here in the Last Frontier who are opposing the RCV aren't prepared to give up the effort; if the recount yields nothing, we'll work to get it on the ballot again in 2026 and see if we can't overcome those dark-money leftists from Outside who keep meddling in Alaska politics. One way or another, we'll get this done, and we'll Make Alaska Great Again. Lisa Murkowski is up for re-election in 2028; RCV was instrumental in her holding that Senate seat in 2022, despite Alaska Republicans choosing her opponent, Kelly Tshibaka, as the party's standard-bearer. A repeal of RCV may well reverse those results.
Let's get it done, Alaska.
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