Alaska is a Model for the Future

Mary Peltola was elected to Alaska’s Congressional seat through Ranked Choice Voting in 2022. She not only beat 22 other candidates to get the seat (including Sarah Palin and Santa Claus), but she also made history by becoming the first Alaska Native in Congress. She is uniquely popular in her state, gaining the support and vote of Alaskans on all sides of the aisle – something achieved because of Alaska’s voting system, RCV.

Ranked Choice Voting helps bring in a big variety of candidates – even Santa Claus! Two very different candidates, deeply progressive Santa and libertarian Chris, ran in the special election to replace Don Young. They both support Rank Choice Voting – and each other. Despite their political differences, they both ran positive campaigns, showing how RCV brings people together.

Alaskans are known for their independent streak – and Ranked Choice Voting reflects that perfectly. After adopting RCV in 2020, a wider variety of candidates actually had a shot at the ballot box, leading to a breakdown of typical party politics and to a greater consensus choice.

David Guttenberg, a former Alaskan legislator and Joelle Hall, the AFL-CIO President in Alaska were both skeptical of who would benefit from Ranked Choice Voting in Alaska – but, both were quickly persuaded that RCV benefits the voters after the 2020 election. Coalition government is good for Alaska. Coalition government is good for America.