Look at the byline in this opinion piece, and you will see something rare in these divided times: A Democrat and a Republican writing together. But in Alaska, where we both serve in the Legislature, cooperation across party lines is the norm, and we think we’ve created a model that will benefit other states.
It is not Alaskan agree at all. The political factions here differ in opinion as anywhere else. But in 2016, we formed a majority coalition in the Alaska House of Representatives made up of legislators committed to working across the aisle for the benefit of our constituents. A coalition of 17 Democrats, three Republicans and two independents took control of the Alaska House after nearly two decades of Republican control. As a member of the House of Representatives in 2016, Matt joined that majority. While the path forward sometimes seems uncertain, our political diversity is our strength.
While some thought the 2016 coalition would be an isolated event, the majority coalition continued to control the Alaska House and Senate. Both of us are members of the Senate, and we are part of a bipartisan majority coalition of nine Democrats and eight Republicans. The current tri-partisan majority in the House has 20 Republicans, two Democrats and one independent. We are the only coalition majority in the 50 state legislatures.
What does that mean practically? This year, the Legislature came together to pass bipartisan legislation. This year’s examples include a crime bill that addresses issues with the fentanyl overdose trend and victims’ rights, plans to improve energy transmission in Alaska, and insurance coverage for 12-month birth control prescriptions. This bipartisan action shows voters that our coalition is working for Alaskans.
Serving in a majority coalition means knowing that many of your peers have different perspectives on some issues. And on other issues, we have the same values and a common vision. Working together is based on strong personal relationships, focusing on shared values, and working for the good of our country. Building that support requires patience, persistence and understanding that some proposals are universal, while others, while well-intentioned, will not succeed in our diverse Legislature.
One of the reasons the coalition is doing so well in Alaska is the makeup of the electorate. According to the Division of Elections, Alaska voters are registered as 24% Republican, 13% Democrat and the rest, more than 60%, are minor party or nonpartisan or unaffiliated. Alaska has the highest number of unaffiliated voters in the country and the rates of registered Democrats and Republicans are among the lowest. Legislators across the country recognize the diversity of voices in unaffiliated voters. We understand the importance of building relationships and working with politicians from any party.
Another reason the “Alaska Model” works so well is the open primary system combined with ranked choice general elections. With strong support from unaffiliated voters, Alaska approved ballot measures for open primaries and ranked-choice generals in 2020. Voters can “pick one” from an entire list of candidates in the primary, with the top four candidates advancing to the election. public, regardless of political affiliation. In a general election, voters can rank their choices, and a candidate must get 50% + 1 of the vote to win. If no candidate reaches the threshold of 50% + 1, then the lowest candidate is eliminated, and second choice votes are distributed. The ranked choice system promotes fairness in our elections because candidates must appeal to all voters, not just a small party base. In multicandidate races, the system selects the candidate who receives the second most votes over other candidates on either side of the political spectrum.
While some people believe this favors one party over another, the effect of ranked choice voting can be seen in the results of the 2022 Alaska election. , a more moderate Republican for the US Senate and, for the first time in decades, a moderate Alaska Native woman Democrat. for the US House.
The results of the State Legislature elections show that the people elected really reflect their districts, whether they lean right, left or moderate. Open primaries also see more female candidates in 2022 than in the previous five election cycles combined! The Alaska model provides more opportunities for candidates from diverse backgrounds, who represent the people of Alaska, not just the anointed candidates of a political party.
Alaska is a unique place. Our country was built by pioneers and dreamers who combined independent thinking with a strong commitment to collaboration and community. We believe that the spirit of collaboration and open-mindedness can be found in every corner of the country. And we hope that our model of finding common ground and focusing on shared values and goals can inspire other countries.
