Political parties are built on debate. We won’t always agree on candidates, endorsements or strategy. Healthy disagreement is not a weakness – it is part of representative government. But there is one principle that should unite us all: when a dispute arises, it should be resolved through an established process, and once that process is complete, its outcome deserves respect.

Over the past several weeks, a formal complaint against District 25 Chairman Steve Johnson generated considerable attention on social media and in local news coverage. The allegations were serious and deserved to be heard. They were.

The Alaska Republican Party conducted a hearing, reviewed the complaint, and ultimately dismissed it by a vote of 13–8. The party declined to remove Chairman Johnson, overturn district actions, or grant the sanctions requested by the complainants.

That outcome is significant – not because it ends every disagreement, but because it demonstrates that our party followed its own procedures. A complaint was filed. Evidence and arguments were presented. Party members reached a decision.

In our political climate, too often, allegations are treated as conclusions before any review has taken place. Social media amplifies accusations instantly, while the slower work of evaluating facts rarely receives the same attention. Whatever one’s view of this complaint, the official process has now concluded.

Reasonable people will continue to disagree. They should. But disagreement does not require division, and criticism does not require character assassination.

Equally important, the endorsement process remains intact. The endorsed candidates continue to hold their endorsements, and no action was taken to invalidate those decisions. Those who supported the complaint have every right to disagree with that outcome or advocate for future rule changes, but it is important to distinguish between policy disagreements and official findings.

Some criticism has focused on the fact that my husband serves as District 25 chairman while I serve as the elected representative for our district. That issue has been debated within the Alaska Republican Party for years. Delegates have repeatedly considered proposals to prohibit spouses of elected officials from serving as district chairs or exercising district voting authority, and those proposals have not been adopted. Whether members believe those rules should change is a legitimate topic for debate. Until they do, however, party officers should be judged by the rules that exist – not by rules some wish existed.

What concerns me most is not that a complaint was filed. Accountability is essential to any healthy organization. What concerns me is the growing tendency to assume guilt before a process has run its course and to continue portraying allegations as established facts even after a decision has been made.

Republicans face significant challenges in Alaska. Families are concerned about inflation, public safety, education, responsible resource development, and ensuring opportunity for future generations. Those are the issues voters expect us to address. We are looking at a good chance of having Democrats in control of both Houses and the governor’s seat. If Alaskans want government out of the way of jobs, opportunity and resource development, we need to fight the opposition. Endless internal conflict benefits no one except those who oppose the values we share.

Reasonable people will continue to disagree. They should. But disagreement does not require division, and criticism does not require character assassination. We strengthen our party not by questioning one another’s motives at every turn, but by respecting the processes we have created to resolve disputes fairly.

The Alaska Republican Party has spoken through its established procedures. The complaint has been dismissed. The endorsed candidates remain endorsed. While not everyone will agree with the outcome, respecting that outcome is essential if we expect our institutions – and one another – to be treated fairly.

Now it is time to move beyond internal disputes and focus on what matters most: earning the trust of voters and advancing solid solutions for Alaska’s future.

The views expressed here are those of the author.

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