JUNEAU, Alaska — Two candidates who together won just over 1% of the vote in Alaska’s House primary last week could advance to the November general election.
Matthew Salisbury, a Republican, and John Wayne Howe, who is chairman of the Alaska Independence Party, can advance, according to results released Friday night by the state Division of Elections. The reduced field already includes two front-runners, Democrats U.S. Representative Mary Peltola and Republican Nick Begich.
In Alaska’s open primary system, the four voters with the most votes, regardless of party, advance to the general election. Peltola is ready with the most votes in the Aug. 20 primary, followed by Begich and Republican Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Far behind them, Salisbury and Howe led the rest of the field of 12.
Peltola, Begich and Dahlstrom were the only candidates to report raising money. But Dahlstrom announced her withdrawal Last week, elections director Carol Beecher said this would allow the fifth-place candidate to qualify for the November election.
Election officials were aiming for Sunday to certify the primary results. Monday is the deadline for candidates to withdraw from the general election.
Peltola became the first Alaska Native to serve in Congress in 2022 following the death of Republican U.S. Congressman Don Young, who had held the seat for 49 years. That year’s election was the first to be held using the new voting process.
Begich, who has spoken out against ranked-choice voting, said conservatives must unite to defeat Peltola in November.
Dahlstrom, who announced her decision on Aug. 23, said she has done “what’s right for Alaska throughout her career. And today is no different. At this time, the best thing I can do for our state and our party is to withdraw my name from the general election ballot and end my campaign.”
An initiative to abolish the open primary system and the ranked-choice general election system will also appear on the fall ballot.
Salisbury said in his candidacy statement filed with the House that the culture in Washington “has allowed the people to be forgotten. I have joined the race for our solo seat in the House to ensure that the voices of the people are heard and in turn amplified throughout D.C. and the country.”
Howe said in his statement that Alaskans are “captive to the government” and called the federal government “an oppressive master.”
There are nearly 18,900 registered voters with the Alaska Independence Party, making it the third-largest of the state’s four recognized political parties, according to Division of Elections statistics. But the majority of people registered to vote in Alaska are not registered with a party.
