AK-AL Special election: Peltola wins!

[Alben Barkley]

The Democrats were able to win Alabama in the lead up to the 2018 blue wave midterm elections. Republicans can't even win in Alaska in what is supposedly a red wave year.

I think the talk of a "red wave" is pure fantasy at this point. There is literally no reason to expect one anymore other than feelings. And as we all know, facts don't care about your feelings.

[ηєω ƒяσηтιєя]

Congrats to Mary Peltola! This is awesome!

I didn't even know that this race was a thing until I saw it on CNN just a few minutes ago.

Alaska Natives need more attention and recognition given to them. Hopefully, she's able to win again in November for the full term (even if that's unlikely - but who knows!).

[emailking]

And this is from 2 weeks ago. Thing have only gotten better for Dems since

[Alben Barkley]

Saying Palin was a terrible candidate misses the point. Even with better candidates, Democrats wouldn't be winning a race like this if the national environment was a Republican wave. These opportunities open up as the national environment improves.

Also she's not even as terrible a candidate as Oz, Walker, and other MAGA Republicans on the ballot in November in much less red states.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

The Democrats were able to win Alabama in the lead up to the 2018 blue wave midterm elections. Republicans can't even win in Alaska in what is supposedly a red wave year.

I think the talk of a "red wave" is pure fantasy at this point. There is literally no reason to expect one anymore other than feelings. And as we all know, facts don't care about your feelings.

[Pericles]

Saying Palin was a terrible candidate misses the point. Even with better candidates, Democrats wouldn't be winning a race like this if the national environment was a Republican wave. These opportunities open up as the national environment improves.

Also she's not even as terrible a candidate as Oz, Walker, and other MAGA Republicans on the ballot in November in much less red states.

I'd assume she's even more famous, but that's a good point-if she underperforms by 15 points for being a terrible candidate then how are Republicans supposed to win the Senate with the candidates they have?

[Xing]

Imagine being told a few days before the 2020 election that in 2022 the Republicans would win a special election in TX-34 and the Democrats would win one in AK.

[Hope For A New Era]

And this is from 2 weeks ago. Thing have only gotten better for Dems since

Please, I can only handle so much hopium.

[prag_prog]

Voters are complicated lol

https://twitter.com/cityafreaks/status/1565176413279469570

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

Imagine being told a few days before the 2020 election that in 2022 the Republicans would win a special election in TX-34 and the Democrats would win one in AK.

If AK-AL was a fluke TX-34 was certainly one as well.

[philly09]

The cope is strong here.
https://twitter.com/DCLongIslander/status/1565131650404597762

https://twitter.com/DCLongIslander/status/1565142537094021121

https://twitter.com/DCLongIslander/status/1565129897709895680

[emailking]

bookmark a tweet? lol

[Born to Slay. Forced to Work.]

Alaska is a very small state with a huge diversity in economy/education/etc while also having a good third of the population in glad handing distance. This is the state where nearly 20% of the legislature is either independent, non-caucusing, or outright in coalition with democrats. Said democratic coalition has lead the state since 2016.

I am extremely hesitant to draw conclusions based of one race in such a state, but it still makes me feel better about November.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Palin is still on ballot in Nov they're gonna split the vote she hasn't dropped out Peltola will win on split vote🤩🤩



They act like Palin dropped out no she hasn't

[Ferguson97]

bookmark a tweet? lol

You can bookmark a tweet. It's a way to save it without liking/retweeting.

[Holmes]

Without RCV, Palin wins the primary and it’s just her and Peltola on the ballot, and Peltola still wins. It’s incredibly stupid to consider the combined first round R vote as the “real” results, but whatever. Cope.

[Holmes]

bookmark a tweet? lol

You can bookmark tweets. I do it all the time.

[DrScholl]

The combined Republican vote number is irrelevant when you consider that Begich is a big family name in the state and many of his votes likely weren't solid Republican or even obtainable for Palin. Most voters probably wanted a candidate who will work hard for the state as opposed to a talk and no action candidate like Sarah Palin.

[Schiff for Senate]

Saying Palin was a terrible candidate misses the point. Even with better candidates, Democrats wouldn't be winning a race like this if the national environment was a Republican wave. These opportunities open up as the national environment improves.

Agreed. Just saying that, AK is a weird enough state that even if it WERE a red wave, the Dem could plausibly come close under the right circumstances (see AK-SEN 2014). I do agree though, there isn’t going to be any red wave in November. In fact, at this point it’s quite possible Democrats keep the House (and expand their Senate majority, even).

[Schiff for Senate]

Alaska is a very small state with a huge diversity in economy/education/etc while also having a good third of the population in glad handing distance. This is the state where nearly 20% of the legislature is either independent, non-caucusing, or outright in coalition with democrats. Said democratic coalition has lead the state since 2016.

I am extremely hesitant to draw conclusions based of one race in such a state, but it still makes me feel better about November.

This, basically

[smoltchanov]

Being very much "anti-both parties" in their present form (though, admittedly - more anti-Republican then anti-Democratic) i would (if i could) expand Alaska's system of voting on all 50 states. It would make elections more interesting and less predictable. And sane candidates (now frequently blocked by mad "activists" in party primary) would, most likely, get better chances to be elected...

[OSR stands with Israel]

Without RCV, Palin wins the primary and it’s just her and Peltola on the ballot, and Peltola still wins. It’s incredibly stupid to consider the combined first round R vote as the “real” results, but whatever. Cope.

Not really as you wouldnt have Palin and Begich attacking each other literally a day before the election .

[Sir Mohamed]

Wait, I'm checking in for late night headlines and Palin lost? This is freakin' awesome!

If we can keep this, the red wave is dead! Secular wave incoming!

[SInNYC]

I have a question for Alaskans out there (do we have any?). Do you think less informed voters knew that this Begich was far far different from his uncle the Democratic senator, not to mention granddad?

The reason I ask is that I can also that as another potential reason for crossover from Begich to Peltola, especially in the less connected bush.

[Blair]

Wasn’t Palin already relatively disliked in the state over a decade ago because she resigned and basically cashed in (and moved away) on being a reality star?