NEW: Last year, Alaska tried something unique.

It became the first state to use an election system that placed all candidates on the same ballot and then allowed voters to rank their preferences, with the four top vote-getters moving to a runoff.

One purpose was to weed out the extremists poisoning our politics.

It worked splendidly.

Others should try it.

#Voting #Elections #Alaska #AlaskaPolitics #Campaigns #Politics #RankedChoiceVoting

The stench of the current governor and his administration just gets fouler as the days and weeks and months go by. Thanks to former State Rep. Jennifer Johnston for filing the complaint.
"The Alaska Public Offices Commission has fined a group active in last year’s legislative elections $2,525 for failing to properly disclose its financial dealings.

The group, Alaska Policy Partners, attacked moderate Republican and Democratic candidates during the election, spending $210,000 with a Utah-based firm called Massey Political Consulting that wasn’t licensed to work in Alaska.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy appointed the group’s president, Seth Church, to the University of Alaska Board of Regents on Thursday...
Attorney General Treg Taylor and his wife, Jodi, were listed as members of the group’s partner corporation in 2022, and Taylor was listed as the sponsor of a $25,000 per-hotel-room fishing fundraiser for the group."
#Alaska #AlaskaPolitics
https://alaskabeacon.com/briefs/alaska-campaign-regulator-fines-political-group-with-ties-to-university-official-and-state-attorney-general/

I am livid! Thousands of Alaskans don't have food, but wtf, right??
“As amended, the report now provides a comprehensive compensation plan that includes the legislature. This bill is no longer necessary as the issue has been resolved by the amendment to the report,” Dunleavy said in a letter explaining his veto...

Two-thirds of lawmakers would need to vote together to override Dunleavy’s veto.
After the previous commission failed to recommend a pay increase for lawmakers, Stevens said the Senate had a bill prepared to increase legislators’ pay to $84,000 per year, which would be half the amount paid to commissioners.... The compensation package would not impact their per diem expense payments, which allow them to collect $307 tax-free per legislative day. Per diem payments add roughly $37,000 per year for legislators who claim them during an entire 121-day legislative session."

#Alaska #AlaskaPolitics #Greed
https://www.adn.com/politics/alaska-legislature/2023/03/20/gov-dunleavy-removes-last-hurdle-for-67-pay-raise-for-lawmakers-20-raise-for-himself-and-cabinet/

The judge ruled today that AK Rep. David Eastman is eligible to serve as a legislator despite ties to the Oath Keepers. I am not shocked, but disappointed.
#AlaskaPolitics
https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2022/12/23/alaska-lawmaker-with-oath-keepers-ties-eligible-office/

"Does Rep. David Eastman’s membership in the Oath Keepers militia group disqualify him from holding elected office under the Alaska Constitution’s Red Scare-era disloyalty clause?" The question/reason for the eligibility trial of AK Rep. David Eastman lasted a little over a week. Here is a good recap.
#AlaskaPolitics
https://akmemo.substack.com/p/the-wild-often-outrageous-trial-against

As if the eligibility trial of Alaska Rep. David Eastman wasn't insane enough yesterday, today, former Trump lawyer John Eastman (no relation) testified for the Oath Keeper member of the AK legislature. I couldn't listen to much of it, but here's an article.
#AlaskaPolitics
https://www.adn.com/politics/2022/12/20/trump-attorney-testifies-in-trial-over-alaska-oath-keepers-eligibility-for-office/

As I stated earlier...
Jailed Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes testified Monday in the trial of Alaska state Rep. David Eastman, who identifies as a member of the right-wing group.

Eastman, a Wasilla Republican, is accused of violating a clause of the Alaska constitution that bars people from holding elected office if they belong to a group that advocates the violent overthrow of the U.S. government.
#Creepy #AlaskaPolitics
https://www.adn.com/politics/2022/12/19/convicted-oath-keepers-leader-testifies-in-trial-of-alaska-lawmaker/

If you didn't know that Stewart Rhodes has been convicted of seditious conspiracy against the US, among other charges, listening to his testimony FOR AK Rep David Eastman today was a total trip. I had no idea Oath Keepers was such a wonderful humanitarian organization that despises racism/antisemitism and violence, but he was very specific about how much he hates BLM, Antifa and other such "communist organizations." Cross-examination happens tomorrow.
#AlaskaPolitics

Oath Keepers leader, Stewart Rhodes, is being sworn in to testify in the eligibility trial of AK Rep David Eastman.
#AlaskaPolitics

David Eastman testifying in his eligibility trial under oath said he is not a white supremacist or conspiracy theorist...that's perjury!!
#AlaskaPolitics

Today's recap of the eligibility trial of AK Rep David Eastman. John Guandolo, the disgraced ex-FBI agent is still a nutjob & stated, among other ridiculous things, that Mitch McConnell & Beto O'Rourke are Chinese Communist plants, & he saw BLM and Antifa at the Capitol on Jan. 6. Then another Oath Keeper, Michael Nichols, who was at the riot/insurrection said the OK's were just there helping the Capitol police. Insanity! Trial resumes Monday.
#AlaskaPolitics

Some great news!

#MaryPeltola #Alaska #AlaskaPolitics #BlueWave

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/23/us/politics/mary-peltola-alaska-house-race.html

Rep. Mary Peltola (D) #ak-al victory remarks after ranked-choice voting tabulation 11/23/22 DT #anchorage #alaska. Peltola beat 47 other candidates in a "jungle primary" in August to serve the remainder of the term of Don Young (R), AK's sole rep in the US house 1973 t0 2022! This time she beat three other candidates including 2008 VP candidate Sarah Palin to win the seat for the next two years — first #nativealaskan in the US House. #uspolitics #uselections #alaskapolitics

#AlaskaPolitics Great news, Mary Peltola wins Alaskas lone congressional seat. NYT quote: ‘Representative Mary Peltola, Democrat of Alaska and the first Alaska Native woman to serve in Congress, on Wednesday won a full term in the House, according to The Associated Press, holding back three conservative challengers.’