Articles written by Andrew Kitchenman


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  • Alaska chooses to keep ranked choice voting, Begich defeats Peltola, unofficial results show

    Andrew Kitchenman, Alaska Beacon|Nov 21, 2024

    Alaska’s open primary and ranked choice voting system survived, while Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich defeated Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, according to the unofficial results released on Wednesday. The Alaska Division of Elections completed the ranked choice tabulations for all nine races in which no candidate received more than 50% of first-preference ballots. The division is targeting Nov. 30 as the date by which it will certify the results. There will be another tabulation completed then. Until that is completed, the results ar... Full story

  • Votes to repeal Alaska's open primaries, ranked choice voting are narrowly ahead

    Andrew Kitchenman, Alaska Beacon|Nov 7, 2024

    More Alaskans voted to repeal the state's open primary and ranked choice voting system than voted against the measure, among the roughly 70% of the votes counted through early Wednesday. There were 120,597 votes to pass Ballot Measure 2 and 115,110 against it, though it remained too close to call, with a rough estimate of 100,000 ballots left to count. Ballot Measure 2 would repeal the voting system that's been in place since voters approved it in 2020. If the measure passes, political parties... Full story

  • Trump wins Alaska, for the 15th consecutive Republican victory in the state

    Andrew Kitchenman, Alaska Beacon|Nov 7, 2024

    Republican Donald Trump again won Alaska in the presidential election, the Associated Press announced on Wednesday. Trump had a 15.2-percentage-point lead over Democrat Kamala Harris, with roughly 70% of the state’s votes counted. Alaska was one of two states, along with Maine, that held a ranked choice election for president. However, the ranked choices of voters for trailing candidates would only be considered if no candidate received more than 50% of the first-preference votes. Trump was on track to exceed that level. Alaska has voted for t... Full story

  • Peltola leads in Alaska U.S. House primary, with Begich ahead of Dahlstrom by 7 percent

    Andrew Kitchenman and Yereth Rosen, Alaska Beacon|Aug 22, 2024

    Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola received more than half of the votes in primary results released Tuesday night, well ahead of Republican challengers, businessman Nick Begich III and Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom. With 387 of 403 precincts reporting through 1 a.m. on Wednesday, the incumbent Peltola had received 50.4% of the votes counted. She was running well ahead of her 36.8% share of the vote in the 2022 primary, which was held the same day as the special election she won to fill the seat left vacant by the death of 49-year Congressman Don... Full story

  • In final judgment, judge blocks Alaska correspondence provisions, keeps current rules through June

    Andrew Kitchenman|May 9, 2024

    An Anchorage Superior Court judge on Thursday put on hold through the end of the school year a ruling invalidating two provisions of state law governing correspondence education. Judge Adolf Zeman issued a hold, known as a “stay,” requested by plaintiffs on a ruling he made in April, that found the state violated the Alaska Constitution by providing public funding for private schools through its allotment program. The hold will remain in effect through June 30. Along with the hold, Zeman issued a final judgment on the two provisions, ena... Full story

  • Alaska House rejects per-student school funding increase

    Andrew Kitchenman, Alaska Beacon|Feb 22, 2024

    The Alaska House of Representatives voted on Wednesday against increasing the amount written into law saying how much the state should spend per student in public schools. Wednesday’s action isn’t final, and the House could change course as soon as 11 a.m. Thursday, when debates are scheduled to resume. House Minority Leader Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, said it would be accurate to consider things in a holding pattern. “Obviously, we haven’t come to a deal yet. But the bill will be in second (reading) tomorrow. So we’ll still have the opportuni... Full story

  • Questions on minimum wage, paid sick leave and campaign funding could be heading to Alaska voters

    Andrew Kitchenman, Alaska Beacon|Jul 20, 2023

    Proposed ballot measures would raise Alaska minimum wage, add mandatory paid sick leave, as well as limit campaign contributions and state spending on party candidate nominations. The Alaska Division of Elections received the proposals last week. One proposed ballot measure would make a series of changes to state labor laws. It would raise the hourly minimum wage — currently $10.85 — to $13 in July 2025, $14 in July 2026 and $15 in July 2027, and annually according to inflation after that. It would require employers with 15 or more employees to... Full story

  • Permanent Fund account under pressure from investment losses and inflation

    Andrew Kitchenman, Alaska Beacon|Jun 1, 2023

    For 41 years, Alaskans’ bank accounts have been refilled with dividends – usually more than $1,000 – from the $76.6 billion Alaska Permanent Fund. More recently, the fund also has been the biggest source of money paying for state government. But what if there was no money available for either dividends or the state budget? Permanent Fund managers have long known the fund could one day have less available to spend than is needed. They now say that day could be coming uncomfortably soon, in perhaps just three years. Since last July, it’s been a... Full story

  • Dunleavy appears headed to re-election, may head off ranked choice count

    Andrew Kitchenman, Alaska Beacon|Nov 10, 2022

    In votes counted through early Wednesday morning, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy appeared on pace for re-election to a second four-year term. Dunleavy, a Republican, built a substantial lead over challengers Democrat Les Gara, independent Bill Walker and Republican Charlie Pierce, holding 52% of Tuesday's 216,364 first-choice votes. If Dunleavy's vote share stays above 50%, he will win the election outright without going through Alaska's new ranked choice counting process. Gara and Walker had less... Full story