Raucous Alaska special election looms after Don Young's death
by David M. Drucker, Senior Political Correspondent |
| March 22, 2022 06:30 AM
The death of Rep. Don Young is poised to spark a competitive special election to succeed the long-serving Republican that will test Alaska’s new ranked-choice voting system.
Republicans in GOP-leaning Alaska who had waited several years for Young to relinquish the state’s lone House seat are eyeing a bid in a special election expected this summer. Especially in a Republican-trending election year, the GOP should be favored. But some GOP insiders in Alaska are fretting about the possibility of a Democratic upset.
Alaska’s new voting law created an all-party primary, with the top four candidates advancing regardless of partisan affiliation, followed by a general election decided by ranked-choice voting. This system, plus intense interest in succeeding Young on the part of so many Republicans, could combine to create unusual political conditions favorable to Democrats.
“I would expect that the national Democrat machine will probably go into full action in the state of Alaska,” said Nick Begich, the only Republican who dared challenge Young in the GOP primary before the congressman died and who therefore already has a special election campaign up and running.
more
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/raucous-alaska-special-election-looms-after-don-youngs-death
