The 2026 governor’s race is crowded, with more than a dozen candidates, most of them Republicans. That should be good news, but under Alaska’s rigged election system it is a danger.
In the 2022 primary for governor, only 21.8% of eligible Alaskans showed up to vote. That was just 96,000 ballots out of more than 440,000 who could have voted. Less than a quarter of Alaskans decided who would advance to the general contest, and because of ranked-choice voting that small slice of voters set the stage for a November outcome that ignored the majority of conservatives.
The pattern continued in 2024. Alaska’s August 20 primary, a nonpartisan open election for U.S. House, state legislature, and ballot measures, drew only 70,000–75,000 ballots out of 605,482 registered voters which is around 12%. This was one of the lowest primary turnouts in 50 years, a sharp drop from 2022’s 37.5% and 2020’s 35.7%. Absentee voting was also down significantly, with just over 12,500 requests by mid-August, compared to 27,000+ in 2022 and 62,000+ in 2020.
All candidates appeared on a single ballot, with the top four advancing to the ranked-choice general election. When we break down turnout by party, the pattern is clear: Republicans punched above their registration weight, with roughly 17–21% of registered Republicans voting, driven by competitive U.S. House and legislative races. Democrats participated at a slightly lower rate, around 13–15%, reflecting a more consolidated field. Undeclared voters, who make up the majority of Alaska’s electorate, dragged down overall turnout with only about 8–10% engagement, which is common in off-year primaries.
This is not complicated; it just takes discipline. If even half our base, 60,000 or 70,000 Republicans, show up in August, we can send four conservatives forward and lock Democrats out.
Even though Republicans outperformed their share, the low overall participation still left room for vote-splitting risks, showing how easily Democrats can sneak into the top four if conservatives do not show up.
Low turnout is the Democrats’ best weapon. High turnout is ours. Republicans are 24% of Alaska’s voters, about 145,000 people. Democrats are only 12 to 14 percent, roughly 75,000. If we show up, we win. If we stay home, even one Democrat can sneak into the top four with as little as 10 or 15 percent of the vote, while conservatives are split into small slices. That is how the system is designed to work. It is a trap, and we have fallen into it before. We cannot afford to do it again, and we must start preparing now.
For years, I have warned that RCV is a monoculture machine. It punishes conservatives by dividing our vote and rewarding Democrats for turning out their disciplined base. There is a reason Democrats insist on having only one of them in the general election and will even file lawsuits to see that happen. Ranked-choice voting is cheating. It is a scheme sold as reform but designed to dilute conservative strength. As the Foundation for Government Accountability has pointed out, sparse turnout splits votes, trashes ballots, and silences voters. The only way to beat it is to overwhelm it.
That means every Republican must treat the August 18, 2026, primary as the main event. Forget November for a moment. The real election is the primary, and it is not RCV. In the August primary all candidates appear on a single ballot regardless of party, and voters pick just one, with the top four advancing by simple plurality. If Republicans claim all four slots, then RCV’s tricks in the general election collapse. Preferences will roll within the conservative family, and Democrats will not be able to rely on exhaustion and apathy to hand them the win.
This is not complicated; it just takes discipline. If even half our base, 60,000 or 70,000 Republicans, show up in August, we can send four conservatives forward and lock Democrats out. The November election would become a contest between Republicans, not a fight stacked in favor of the left.
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
That is why I am calling on every Republican in Alaska to mark your calendar now. August 18, 2026, is the day. Register to vote today. If you will be on the Slope, fishing in Bristol Bay, or working out of town, request your absentee ballot. Talk to your neighbors, your coworkers, your family. Offer rides to the polls. Knock on doors. Do not assume someone else will do it. If we want Alaska’s future secured, if we want to outnumber and outmaneuver RCV, we need to do it ourselves.
Ranked-choice voting only works against us if we let it. In 2022 and 2024, Republicans stayed home and we lost winnable races. Democrats celebrated while conservatives complained about the system. Complaints do not win elections. Turnout does.
Alaskans deserve a government that reflects our values, not one propped up by 12–15 percent of disengaged voters. If we outnumber them, we win. It’s that simple.
So here is my challenge, Republicans must flood the ballot box in the 2026 primary. Show up in overwhelming numbers. Do not let Democrats sneak through the back door of RCV again. This is our state, our future, and our responsibility.
The choice is ours. Let’s make it count. Outnumber the cheat.
The views expressed here are those of the author.
14 Comments
From what there is by way of republicans on that list, the election is going to be a loss. There isn’t one republican worth a vote!
Then, you must have already decided to vote Democrat?
WELL MR MAC SCABIE BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO ARE WIDELY KNOWN AS A LIAR, RHINO, THE PUBLIC IS DEMORALIZED, AND HAVE COMPLETELY LOST ANY RESPECT FOR OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT! SO GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR INSINCERE PROPOSAL!!!
Thank you Dave. I appreciate your kind and thoughtful reply and critique. Good to see you at the memorial the other day. Too bad we did’t get a chance to talk.
Your welcome Kevin! So much to say about both you and the memorial! I DEEPLY RESPECT CHARLIE KIRK FOR WHAT HE DID! HIS CHARACTER WILL BE MISSED! THATS WHY I WAS THERE! POLITICIANS CAPITALIZE ON THE BACKS OF PEOPLE LIKE HIM TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM THE REPUTATIONS THEY’VE EARNED! TAKE CARMILLA WARFIELD FOR EXAMPLE! THIS WOMEN HAS THE POWER TO REMOVE MURKOWSKI, BUT REFUSES TO! BEING SELECTED TO MEMORIALIZE A LEGEND LIKE KIRK WAS MADENING AND INAPPROPRIATE! JUST LIKE DUNLEAVY WRITING ABOUT HOW WE ALL NEED TO HAVE A CHARACTER LIKE KIRK IS COMPLETELY DISENGENIOUS! MY STATEMENT TO YOU IS CHOOSE WHAT YOU want to be known by!!! The fellow i was sitting next to mentioned what I’ve heard many declare, YOUR A RHINO AND THAT EQUATES TO WHAT HAS DEMORALIZED THIS STATES POLITICS! WHAT IT MEANS TO ME IS WE ARE NOT A REPRESENTATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT! DISHEARTENING AND DISGUSTED WITH IT FAR TO often to believe it will ever be restored! CHARLIE KIRK I BELIEVED IN, THIS SELECTION OF LEADERS BEING PARADED IN FRONT OF US ARE EMBARRASSINGLY ARROGANT AND IGNORANT!
Thanks Dave. Just so you know, Carmella has no power to remove any politician. That is not the function of the state party. She actually spent time at Turning Point with Charlie, as have many of us. Perhaps you could give them the grace to grieve for a friend and colleague without trashing them?
I am curious about one thing tho…. what is your definition of a RINO?
Vote harder is not a strategy when the entire system is corrupt. RCV was put in place so everything is forced through the machines and to give the parties a way to campaign and fund raise. Anyone pretending we still have elections that represent the voters’ will is delusional.
Pray we can get rid of RCV. It has already begun to destroy our state. I agree with Rep McCabe but it is a tall hoped for order. I will be there as I have never missed an election since I registered to vote at 18 in 1978. Sadly, apathy (laziness) is the order of the day for far too many voters.
RCV is so wrong it’s cheating at the highest level.
If you didn’t show up to vote, shut your mouth you have no say.
One vote in person with ID
WELL KEVIN I’M INTERESTED IN TRUTH! THIS IS A KEY ATTRIBUTE OF DEBATE! PUT YOUR IDEAS AND OTHERS WHO OPPOSE YOU IN A PUBLIC FORUM AND LET THE TRUTH HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE REVEALED!! YOU HAVE BEEN INVITED INTO THAT FORUM BUT HAVE REFUSED TO ENGAGE! THOMAS LOVINGS HAS CALLED YOU OUT PUBLICLY, KEN GRIFITH AND KEN HUCKABAH HAVE AS WELL! WE ALL WOULD BENEFIT FROM A CLEANING UP THIS MARXIST MESS NOW WOULDN’T WE?
AS FAR AS CARMILLA, YOU ARE INCORRECT, SHE HAS THE PURSUASIVE POWER TO CAUSE MURKOWSKI TO BE EXPOSED, DEFUNDED, AND OUTED OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY! THATS CALLED POLITICAL CAPITAL WELL SPENT! AND YET SHE DOESN’T DO IT!
In my opinion, it comes down to leadership and a backbone. If Dunleavy had one, he would issue an executive order ending RCV and the mail-in voting which is why there are so many leftists in Alaska’s legislature. When you can tilt the scales and place rats in power, you see incrementally less freedom as they milk your money and rights away. Alaska is in trouble until we have honest elections and people willing to go the extra mile to force some honesty in our politics here. RINOS are Democrats, period. If you do not want to represent the people under the restrictions and guidance of the Constitution, please do Alaska a favor and stay out of politics.
Mr macscabee have you run off into hiding?
Sound advice well said, Rep. McCabe.
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Make it too big to rig, we can win.
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In your legislative capacity, do you know whether the State provided voter information requested by the Justice Department?
ABANDON PRINCIPALS, AND EMBRACE EXPEDIENCE! THE ART OF THE REPUBLICANS LOSING STRATEGY!!!