Alaskans can be a stubborn bunch. In the election that just took place, we returned Alaska’s at-large seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to Republican control and elected Nick Begich III, while Democrat Mary Peltola suffered a defeat. But the other issue that will have a major impact on Alaska’s political scene was the repeal of ranked choice voting (RCV), which failed by a razor-thin 664 votes: 160,619 to 159,955, or 50.1% to 49.9% .
That’s pretty close. The Alaska Republican Party has asked for a recountwhich is handled by Dhillon Law Group.
It’s not over yet.
—Alaska GOP (@akgop) November 25, 2024
The Republican press release states, among other things:
The Alaska Republican Party will request a statewide recount and verification of election results for Ballot Measure 2 – repealing ranked-choice voting in the 2024 general election. We will submit this application, along with the names of the Alaskan voters necessary to begin this process, once the election is certified, 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 retained Dhillon Law Group, led by Harmeet K. Dhillon, to be on site with our party council and observers during the recount and verification.
Dhillon Law Group’s policy has been quick to emerge and Harmeet Dhillon plans accordingly; Nighttime temperatures here in the Big Country are generally well below zero in early December.
We @dhillonlaw @MikeColumboEsq look forward to helping with this critical recount! Thanks @ChairmanWhatley for all your support on election law issues!
I finally have the chance to wear my heaviest winter coat when I find it in the back of the closet! #furcoat https://t.co/g48cGypPEV
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@pnjaban) November 25, 2024
Welcome to Alaska, Ms. Dhillon. You’ll need that broad coat – but if you’re like most people, you’ll be enchanted by the Alaskan landscape.
The anti-repeal campaign was massively outgunned by the anti-repeal side, mostly through outside dim money. Nevertheless, the margin of the measure remained within limits Alaska’s legal range for a recount.
Although dim money from outside Alaska overwhelmed repeal supporters, the repeal ultimately failed by just 664 votes, a narrow margin.
Of the 340,110 votes cast on the measure, the margin between “no” and “yes” votes was 160,619 to 159,955, or 50.1% to 49.9%. The state must bear the cost of a recount when the margin is so close.
The margin of this election is far too diminutive to predict the outcome of the recall. RCV was deployed to several other states this year and failed everywhere except Alaska.
See related: WIN: Republican Nick Begich III wins the at-large seat in the Alaska House
Alaska’s final vote count is complete: The repeal of ranked-choice voting failed, but there was some good news
Ranked-choice voting fails almost everywhere – even though supporters spend a lot of money
Phil Izon, lead organizer of the Ballot Measure 2 initiative, is already organizing another Ballot Measure 2 petition for 2026.
Alaskans are a stubborn bunch. Those of us here in the Last Frontier who oppose the RCV are not ready to give up the effort; If the recount comes up empty, we will work to put the matter back on the ballot in 2026 and see if we can overcome the dim money-funded Leftists at Outside who constantly interfere in Alaska politics. One way or another we will get through this and make Alaska great again. Lisa Murkowski is up for re-election in 2028; RCV was instrumental in her holding that Senate seat in 2022, even though Alaska Republicans elected her opponent, Kelly Tshibaka, as the party’s standard-bearer. Repeal of the RCV could well reverse these results.
Let’s make it happen, Alaska.
