Regardless how much learning Heather's newsletter provides, there have been unusually numerous times this past year that after reading, I just wanted to crawl back under the covers in a fetal position...BUT, it's letters like these that make up for it! Electing two women, one indigenous Democrat and the other an insidious trump-target Republican, who endorsed each (!) other should make Alaskans not only proud of Alaska but for the whole country! It's not just a metaphor but a testament that, even in politics, good CAN win over evil....
As an Alaskan forever, I congratulate these two women. My heart also swells with pride. Thank you to other Alaskans, and to all who vote for competence and reason.
I think Alaska’s combination of an open primary with a ranked choice general election is the best path to save American politics. Partisan primaries empower the extremists. Alaska is giving the political center the power to choose their representatives. I hope to see it spread.
Bill, I agree. I’d like to see a law passed that mandates ranked choice primaries for all races in all states. We now have the computing power to do this.
Last I looked, the states got to make their own voting laws, as long as they don't contradict federal laws (which, however, are being steadily gutted by the Supreme Court). And I think even the states have limited control when it comes to party primaries. Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) is being tested successfully in many places at the municipal level, and its use in ME and AK is a plus. As you probably know, "computing power" has little to do with whether RCV catches on or not.
ME (Maine), not MA (Massachusetts, which is where I live). From the ME secretary of state's website: Maine is using RCV in "all of Maine's state-level primary elections, and in general elections ONLY for federal offices, including the office of U.S. President." They started using it in 2018. All I know about AK (Alaska) is what I've read in the papers. I'm not clear why there was a two-week delay between the general election and the announcement of the final results. Did it take that long to reassign the votes of the bottom-finishers?
Alaska has had the most interesting political reactivation, especially after the depredations of Trump Wannabe Dunleavy on the systems and budgets of AK.
So Kathy, then you’ll probably get a laugh out of Dunleavy’s tweet he published after being re-elected: “From public safety to improving our education outcomes to growing our economy, I am honored to serve Alaskans for another four years”
It was an amazing day for us here in Alaska! I am so proud to have such intelligent, strong, hardworking women representing my state.
Congratulations, Jessica and the State of Alaska!
“The expansion of our political representation to reflect the many different people in our diverse democracy can only be a good thing.”
Truth!
Regardless how much learning Heather's newsletter provides, there have been unusually numerous times this past year that after reading, I just wanted to crawl back under the covers in a fetal position...BUT, it's letters like these that make up for it! Electing two women, one indigenous Democrat and the other an insidious trump-target Republican, who endorsed each (!) other should make Alaskans not only proud of Alaska but for the whole country! It's not just a metaphor but a testament that, even in politics, good CAN win over evil....
As an Alaskan forever, I congratulate these two women. My heart also swells with pride. Thank you to other Alaskans, and to all who vote for competence and reason.
I think Alaska’s combination of an open primary with a ranked choice general election is the best path to save American politics. Partisan primaries empower the extremists. Alaska is giving the political center the power to choose their representatives. I hope to see it spread.
Bill, I agree. I’d like to see a law passed that mandates ranked choice primaries for all races in all states. We now have the computing power to do this.
Last I looked, the states got to make their own voting laws, as long as they don't contradict federal laws (which, however, are being steadily gutted by the Supreme Court). And I think even the states have limited control when it comes to party primaries. Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) is being tested successfully in many places at the municipal level, and its use in ME and AK is a plus. As you probably know, "computing power" has little to do with whether RCV catches on or not.
I am familiar with RCV's positive history in Western states; but, what are the factors in those northern latitudes... in AK & MA?
ME (Maine), not MA (Massachusetts, which is where I live). From the ME secretary of state's website: Maine is using RCV in "all of Maine's state-level primary elections, and in general elections ONLY for federal offices, including the office of U.S. President." They started using it in 2018. All I know about AK (Alaska) is what I've read in the papers. I'm not clear why there was a two-week delay between the general election and the announcement of the final results. Did it take that long to reassign the votes of the bottom-finishers?
Thank you ....
Alaska has had the most interesting political reactivation, especially after the depredations of Trump Wannabe Dunleavy on the systems and budgets of AK.
So Kathy, then you’ll probably get a laugh out of Dunleavy’s tweet he published after being re-elected: “From public safety to improving our education outcomes to growing our economy, I am honored to serve Alaskans for another four years”
😂
I was just reviewing the multiple lawsuits he lost for abusing AK employees and resources.
I do wish the recall efforts had been more successful.