Alaska"s US House race narrows to final candidates for November
- Matthew Salisbury and John Wayne Howe advanced to the November general election despite receiving just over 1% of the vote in Alaska's U.S. House primary.
- The primary system allows the top four candidates to proceed, leading to the unusual advancement of candidates with low vote counts.
- The upcoming election will see Peltola and Begich as frontrunners, with a potential repeal of the current voting system also on the ballot.
In Alaska's recent U.S. House primary, two candidates, Matthew Salisbury and John Wayne Howe, advanced to the November general election despite receiving just over 1% of the vote. This unusual outcome is a result of Alaska's open primary system, which allows the top four vote-getters to proceed to the general election, regardless of party affiliation. The frontrunners, Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola and Republican Nick Begich, had significantly higher vote counts, with Peltola leading the primary. Republican Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, who was backed by former President Donald Trump, initially placed third but withdrew from the race, allowing Salisbury and Howe to qualify for the ballot. Dahlstrom's withdrawal was framed as a strategic decision to benefit the state and her party. The primary results are expected to be certified soon, with a deadline for candidates to withdraw from the general election approaching. Peltola, who made history as the first Alaska Native in Congress, is seeking to retain her seat after winning it in 2022. Begich has expressed concerns about ranked choice voting and emphasized the need for conservative unity to challenge Peltola in the upcoming election. Additionally, an initiative to repeal the open primary and ranked choice voting system will be on the fall ballot, reflecting ongoing debates about electoral processes in Alaska. Salisbury and Howe have articulated their motivations for running, focusing on amplifying the voices of Alaskans and criticizing government overreach.