Overview:
Mark Trahant’s latest column moves from a frustrating encounter with a blister beetle during the Shoshone-Bannock Festival to two closely watched political contests in Minnesota and Alaska. He discusses Peggy Flanagan’s U.S. Senate primary, the growing debate over progressive and centrist Democrats, and the importance of economic issues such as health care and affordability. He then turns to Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system and Ballot Measure 2, highlighting its significance for Alaska Native voters and candidates ahead of the August 18 primary.
This was not the weekend I expected. Lots of family and friends in town for the Shoshone-Bannock Festival. I was eager to visit, walk around, and enjoy a range of Indigenous foods. (I always smile when thinking about mutton stands this far north.)
Only a little bug had a different idea.
To read more articles by Mark Trahant, go to: Marktrahant.substack.com
Two “bites?” on one ankle, and a third on my other ankle. By Saturday afternoon there were welts, swelling, itching, and pain. By Sunday my left ankle was covered with a large boil (and for once, I went to the doctor).
The culprit, most likely anyway, is a blister beetle. It looks very much like the stink bug we always joke about. But this beetle is no joke. They don’t bite or sting but release a toxin called cantharidin. I have no idea this happened. Oh, well, onward.
Minnesota to Alaska
Minnesota’s DFL primary is Tuesday, watching closely the Senate race between Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, White Earth Nation, and Rep. Angie Craig. This is a huge money race where the moderates — read: pro-Israeli government lobby and now the crypto world — spending lots of money. All told more than $70 million has been spent trying to win this one Senate race. Most of that money is not going to Flanagan.
Polls have shown Flanagan with a strong lead. But Cook Political Report is now saying, not so fast. There’s a not of “noise” in the race. (And fears because pollsters missed Michigan’s shift.)
Peggy’s messages, though, have been spot on. She’s talking about affordability issues in a practical way. Voters have a reason to make sure and cast their ballot for Flanagan.
Yesterday on CBS’ Face the Nation, Sen. Bernie Sanders weighed in:
“I think it’s going to be a tight race. I hope very much that Peggy wins. I think what we’re seeing in Minnesota, Margaret, in Michigan, and all across this country, is that people understand that we’re living with an economy that is rigged. You have working families, 60 percent of our people, living paycheck to paycheck. People can’t afford groceries, housing, healthcare, basic necessities of life.”
Much has been made about the split between progressives (including Democratic Socialists) and centrists. I think it’s nonsense. Labels don’t mean as much as the policy choices we must make in the months and years ahead. (Rebuilding a post Trump country.)
I think now is the time, for example, for a universal health care plan, such as Medicare for All. That’s definitely Peggy’s pitch. It’s time to make history in Minnesota.
I am planning on live posting Tuesday night after results start coming in.
Now, Alaska.
One of the reasons we have a progressive-centrist fight in the Democratic party — and to a lesser extent, a MAGA-traditional Republican fight — is that this country’s framework is built around two parties. (It’s not in the Constitution, mind you, just a practice.)
But Alaska voters figured this out with an initiative creating a top-four primary, followed by Ranked Choice Voting in order to reach a majority of 50-percent, plus one.
This makes so much sense. Because different ideological strains from progressives to MAGA still have a place on the November ballot. Voter decide by ranking candidates by preference (first choice, second choice, etc.)
Of course the forces of regression want to do away with Alaska’s voting system. Amendment 2 would repeal Ranked Choice Voting, the top 4 primary, and the strict limits on campaign spending.
Yup. There are folks who champion the broken election system that was (closed, party primary, followed by hold your nose and vote for the lesser of two evils).
From the Anchorage Daily News:
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has given $1.5 million to a group supporting the repeal of Alaska’s voting system, according to a report filed with the state Friday.
Ballot Measure 2, which will appear on the November ballot, seeks to repeal Alaska’s ranked choice voting method, along with open primaries and campaign finance laws that were themselves adopted by ballot measure in 2020.
Musk gave $1.5 million last month to the Aurora Action Network, a Wisconsin-based political action committee that has already collected contributions from numerous billionaire megadonors, including Dick Uihlein, Jeff Yass, Timothy Mellon and Hilcorp owner Jeffery Hildebrand. Aurora Action Network then gave the repeal campaign $1 million in late July.
Musk’s contribution, which make up a sizable share of the repeal campaign’s fundraising, could prove pivotal for the future of Alaska’s elections.
The ballot measure would revert Alaska to closed partisan primaries and pick-one general elections. It would also eliminate campaign finance laws that enable Alaska voters to know when big spenders like Musk give money to Alaska campaigns.
Alaskan Native voters, and its leaders, have benefited from the Alaska way of voting. It made possible Mary Peltola’s election to Congress four years ago and in this election there are Native candidates ready to sweep the board.
To wit:
Mary Peltola, Yu’pik, running for U.S. Senate.
Bill Hill, Dena’ina Athabascan, a candidate for U.S. House.
And, Meda Dewitt, Tlingit, is seeking the governor’s office.
Alaska’s primary is August 18th.
Back to Amendment 2.
Alaska is alone, at least at the state level, in implementing this innovative election method. And the last attempt at repeal failed by under a thousand votes.
The Alaska Native community is among the strongest supporters of Ranked Choice Voting.
“Self-determination begins with having a vote by ensuring every voter can support the candidates they believe in and by providing transparency about the sources of election spending. These are important protections that strengthen trust in our democracy. Ballot Measure 2 would eliminate both, moving Alaska in the wrong direction,” said Roy Apagruk Agloinga, President and CEO of FAI.
“FAI joins a growing coalition of Alaska Native organizations, business leaders, and voters across the political spectrum in opposing Ballot Measure 2 ahead of the November election.”
