Game-Changer: Alaska Republican Dahlstrom Withdraws From House Race, Tipping Election to GOP

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    AP Photo/Becky Bohrer

    Only days after the results of the Alaska primary became apparent, and only hours after the Alaska Supreme Court upheld the repeal of ranked-choice voting (RCV), with Democrat Rep. Mary Peltola holding the lead ahead of Republicans Nick Begich III and Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom, now Dahlstrom has withdrawn from the race. This leaves Nick Begich III to face incumbent Mary Peltola. It’s a whole different game now.

    Given that the Great Land is still stuck with ranked-choice voting, at least through this November, this is great news for the GOP, not just in Alaska but nationally, as it aids in Republicans’ hopes of retaining and expanding control of the House of Representatives. In presidential elections, Alaska has always been a reliably Republican state, at least since 1964; Alaska, in the second election since statehood, voted for Lyndon Johnson, the only year that Alaska has ever voted for a Democrat. Since the state is represented by one at-large House member, one would expect that the same results would be obtained.

    Maybe now they will.


    Previously on RedState: LIVE: Election Results – Alaska, Florida, and Wyoming 

    Ranked-Choice Repeal Upheld: Alaska Supreme Court Rules, Issue to Be on November Ballot


    Nick Begich quickly released a statement:

    Now, Begich III’s odds of ending up representing Alaska in the House have just dramatically increased. (I interviewed Nick Begich III in January of 2024.) 

    Friday has seen two game-changers in as many hours, or very nearly; first, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his presidential campaign and threw his support behind the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump. Now, Lieutenant Gov. Dahlstrom, with this move, has allowed Alaska Republicans to effectively side-step ranked-choice voting. Interesting times!

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