A leftist monthly newspaper, Sol De Medianoche, recently published an article instructing Alaskan Democrats on how to harness the state’s new ranked choice voting scheme in order to defeat surging conservative candidate Kelly Tshibaka. She is seeking to unseat U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski who has fallen out of favor with Alaska’s Republican Party for supporting a litany of anti-conservative policies.
Published last month, the article by Gabriel Dawson lays out a somewhat complicated strategy that requires Democrat voters to actually refrain from listing their top candidate as their first choice, which would typically be a Democrat such as Al Gross.
Under the new rules of ranked choice voting, Alaskans will first be asked to rank their top four candidates in the April 2022 primary. Every candidate, regardless of party, will be on a single ballot. The top four vote-getters will then go on to the general election.
The article suggests that Tshibaka opponents will only prevail “to the extent that there is a loose coalition” formed between Gross and Murkowski supporters.
For the Nov. 8, 2022, general election voters will then be asked to rank their top candidates, first through fourth. If no candidate gains a majority of first place votes in round one, the last-place finisher is eliminated and his or her second-choice votes are redistributed to the remaining three candidates. If there is still no candidate with a majority of votes, the process of elimination continues until one person wins a majority (which would consist of the winning candidate’s first-place votes along with any second-place votes that they were able to pick up from eliminated candidates).
Since four candidates will be listed in the general election, the prospect of an outright winner in round one is less likely. That means the second-choice votes listed under eliminated candidates are highly valued for those candidates who survive the first or second rounds.
The Sol De Medianoche article notes that the leading contenders for U.S. Senate are currently Republican Kelly Tshibaka, Democrat Al Gross and incumbent Sen. Murkowski – also a Republican.
This is one of the flaws initially highlighted by opponents of ranked choice voting – the possibility of manipulating the vote in order to defeat leading candidates.
In order for Democrats to defeat Tshibaka they need to list Murkowski as their first choice and Gross as their second, the newspaper explains.
Why shouldn’t Democrats initially vote for fellow Democrat Gross? According to the Sol De Medianche article, Democrats can’t afford to have Gross and Tshibaka as the top two vote getters with Murkowski being eliminated. That’s because it is very likely that Murkowski voters will list Tshibaka as their second choice (both are Republicans). If Murkowski were eliminated in rounds one or two, most of her second-place votes would likely go to Tshibaka rather than Gross, thereby giving Tshibaka the victory.
If, however, Gross (not Murkowski) is eliminated in round one, and all the Democrats who voted for Gross list Murkowski as their number two choice, Murkowski could defeat Tshibaka with second-choice votes from Gross voters.
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
The Sol De Medianoche article suggests that Tshibaka opponents can only prevail “to the extent that there is a loose coalition” formed between Gross and Murkowski supporters. In other words, Democrats will need to actually vote for Murkowski as their number one choice, even if she is not their preferred candidate or even a member of their party.
The Murkowski camp surely knows this and will likely heavily recruit Democrats who favor Gross.
This is one of the flaws initially highlighted by opponents of ranked choice voting – the possibility of manipulating the vote in order to defeat leading conservative candidates.
Tshibaka, however, has overwhelming support from Republicans and conservative minded Alaskans. If she can convince these voters to back her in overwhelming numbers, she could win a majority in round one and avoid having to survive a challenging second or third round of vote counting.
Alaskans narrowly approved ranked choice voting in the November 2020 general election.
35 Comments
Gov. Dunleavy’s term has been disappointing to say the least. His non-conservative actions and decisions have not matched his pre-election words. Lack of willingness to go to battle over transgender and abortion issues makes it seem that he doesn’t have the moxie the Governor position needs. As flawed as she was, I’m fairly certain Sarah Palin would have taken up both these fights. If he wants to impress me he’s better come through in this session with his biggest campaign promise- the full PFD
Dear Editor,
What do we have to look forward to with the Republican senatorial race between Liza Murkowski, Kelly Tshibaka, and, possibly, Sarah Palin? Murkowski has made thoughtful decisions, some that have not sat well with the Republican Central Committee. Tshibaka has shown an eagerness to play up herself as Trump’s choice women. Palin? She maybe too old to match Tshibaka whose supporters will certainly claim that Palin is only an old cow lowing for public attention. Palin, though, can play “old time religion” better than Tshibaka. Can she make a come back to miff Frank Murkowski? Who knows? Is Palin beyond her prime and happy being a footnote in history? She might very well run the tables and steal the senate seat were she to run! Oh, yes! We know that Palin can spit nails, play a wicked harp, and swing a rugged cross with the best of them! Yes! This maybe the stuff of limericks and slapstick comedy, but it is also high stakes stagecraft. The choice for the Republicans apparently pivots around these three women: sitting Senator Murkowski, Trump’s Tshibaka, and Palin–a proven street fighter! And there are no Republican men who can contend with these women!
Good questions.. Of the ones I now see, I’ll take any one of the over Murkey-Cow_sky..
Force Tina Fay to play Sarah again on SNL, hahaha that would be some revenge there.
In the most recent vote-a-thon preceding the Budget Reconciliation debate, Murkowski voted against banning abortions after 20 weeks of gestation. This from a Republican. And a mother, at that! That’s why I voted for ranked choice voting. I vote my values, not for a runaway, corrupt political party that panders to whatever is politically expedient. May God have mercy on her soul.
If you voted for Rank Choice Voting on your values, then I don’t want your values. People who voted Yes on that garbage don’t understand much when even the most liberal of all cities San Fran didn’t even like the Rank Choice Garbage.
Well according to this article that was a mistake the way you voted for rank choice. Murkowski could have lost her primary to Tshibaka and then it would have been back to another write-in campaign as an Independent, she probably would have lost that this time around. But we don’t have a crystal ball.
The true solution is for a huge majority just for for Tshibaka.
“Leftist News Paper”… There probably are some,. but I haven’t seen one in a long time that wasn’t “leftist”. Many of them are actually owned by a small number of “Leftists”.
So they’re being encouraged to cheat. Got it
Cheat, they already cheated to win the rank choice voting in the last election.
It’s so stupid. Have ID One Vote end of Story.
They already cheat. Ranked choice voting just makes it easier. Add that to mail in ballots – and one really cannot wonder why the left championed such systems.
That’s true. Anytime you don’t get what you want someone must be cheating.
Stupid comment, but if your a Dem with low reasoning skills you’d think there was no voter fraud and make such remarks.
That’s as close enough to a Democrat endorsement for Tshibaka if majority all Democrats are willing to vote for Murkowski. That’s telling Tshibaka is a truer conservative and she’ll be more honest serving Alaskan groups like Rural Alaska.
Pray the people of Alaska may have their eyes open between now and then to begin changing their thinking about Democrats and Republicans like Murkowski, Merrick, and Rasmussen. Pray for the Church to do what they need to do that believers do what they need to do reaching out to their neighbors living around them. Pray they make personal connections and their neighbors are recieving. If Alaskans see the light, walking in the light, then no amount of darkness (like rank choice voting), no amount of deception can snuff out that Light.
Very true. Agree.
My big question is; What ‘Ranked Choice Voting’ passed with the aid of Dominion? Has there been an audit on that vote?
It is amazing to me how corrupt the Democrat mind is to concoct such despicable plan to try to force the placement of a liberal Democrat into an Alaskan office contrary to the desire of Alaskans. Alaska is a Republican State. It’s a Republican state because the people who live here full time are the kind of people who retain the true American values that made this country great. They believe in God, and country, they work hard, and beg no ones pardon to live and raise their families in a moral and responsible way. Our cities are filling with the liberal poison that’s been the demise of many states. In Oregon, for instance, the small area in northwest Oregon controls the rest of the state and creates the, “tail wagging the dog” scenario. This is due to the higher populations in the cities such as Portland. The same condition exists in states of Washington, and California. States will need to set up their own form of electoral college process to ensure fairness. Instead of states being counted, States would count counties and or borough’s for an electoral vote count that eliminates current twisted unfairness we see now. The country is divided, and it’s divided between city and rural factions. We see it in our own nonfunctional legislature now. The division is most apparent.
It’s time to make changes that will ensure Alaska always retains it’s history, values and autonomy from the problems in the lower 48 that are now creeping into our cities. The Ranked Choice voting was and is a bad idea as now proven by this articles content.
Dear Editor,
Referring to the Sol De Medianche as if it were a leading liberal journal is tantamount to one quoting the Watchman as if it were a leading conservative think-tank. Equating your influence with that of the Sol De Medianche tells of anxiety within the Watchman. Why distinguish yourself with the such a paper unless there is cause to be anxious?
As to your article, if Tshibaka has “overwhelming support from Republicans and conservative minded Alaskans,” there is no need to “convince these voters to back her in overwhelming numbers.” Why fear the intellectual influence the Sol De Medianche?
We lost our country through stolen elections; we won’t get it back by playing their corrupt election games. The answer to 1984 is 1776, that is why DHS has declared 1776 Terrorism………..they fear the average American has had enough of their tyrannical Bravo Sierra.
No, we almost lost our country to stolen elections. Such as when failed one term, twice impeached president trump called the Georgia secretary of state to ask him to “find” enough votes for him to win. Also when the traitors supporting trump attacked the capital, assaulted police officers, and attempted to murder officials that didn’t agree with them.
If you think those Impeachments were above the mustard you just prove your complete ignorance.
400 arrests at the Jan 6 “riot”, 2 of which were federal charges, vs the over 4000 arrests on federal charges during the riots over the summer, including Antifa, and most of those were released with leftist like Kamala Harris not only donating to their defenses, but actively telling others to do so. One of the leaders of what violence there was was a well known Antifa member who goes around the country stirring up trouble and violence. Who are the real terrorists?
While I am not condoning what happened on that day, many of the police officers invited the protesters into the capitol. Get your facts straight.
I read just recently that Gross may run for Governor instead. Gray-Jackson I think has tossed her hat into the Senate ring.
FYI, Gray-Jackson is a total leftist (on the Assembly).
Tshibaka has the Fascist faction locked up, that much is sure.
What an idiot! Do you know the difference between Socialisms, Communism and Fascism? Not at a damn thing! With Lisa supporting Chucky, Diane Feinstein, Bernie Sanders, that is supporting socialism.
I don’t get it. I’m an old Aleut woman. I don’t play games and this makes no sense. Throw it out or I can’t vote!
Get the Kow out!
Am I the only one who didn’t realize the ranked voteing passed? I thought that had been shutdown.
I’m not convinced that we passed rank choice voting!! I want a full forensic audit!!
I agree but good luck with that. Our Lt Governor won’t allow that, even though the voting records of all of us were hacked directly before the election. We are totally scr…d. Glad I’m not going to live long enough to see the outcome of all that is happening to our once wonderful country (warts and all).
Petition our legislature for our GREIVANCE.
Wonder how Hitler got into office? With this system of voting. Beware.
My only worry is they 2 Republican candidates would split the vote and Murkowski would win!
I like either candidate but one needs to be presented not 2.
I still question whether ranked choice voting actually won or was manipulated like other contests. Stinks to high heaven.
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