The Alaska Division of Elections is set to certify the Nov. 8 election on Tuesday. Barring challenges for recounts, that’s the final word about who won in all races — except one unusual race, in which the winner prevailed by over 50%.
The State Review Board, made up of bipartisan teams of voters, has been working today in preparation for tomorrow’s official certification.
There are a couple of close races to watch: In Anchorage House District 11, Julie Coloumbe won 3,671 to Walter Featherly’s 3561 — it’s a 110-vote difference. While it is doubtful that Featherly will ask for a recount, he’s entitled to ask for one. In Anchorage House District 15, Rep. Tom McKay won re-election by four votes — 3,472 to Denny Wells’ 3,468 votes, which may trigger a recount after certification.
Then there’s Rep. David Eastman, who won with over 51.3% of his Wasilla District 27. It would appear certification would be a breeze for a candidate who won outright, without having to go through ranked-choice voting, but it’s not that easy.
A judge in Anchorage has ordered the Division of Elections to not certify Eastman’s win until the trial involving his eligibility to serve, brought by Randall Kowalke and the Northern Justice Project, is settled. That could take weeks and it may bollux the process by which the Alaska House of Representatives organizes with a speaker and committee chairs.
The Republicans have a majority with 21 elected, but if Eastman is unable to be certified as a winner for weeks, and if House Speaker Louise defects again to the Democrats, then House organization appears to rest mainly with a Superior Court judge.
That Eastman trial doesn’t start until Dec. 12 in Palmer, with Anchorage Superior Court Judge Jack McKenna presiding.
The case is whether Eastman’s membership in a group called Oath Keepers, made up of Americans who pledge to defend the constitution to which they have, at some point in their military or law careers sworn an oath, disqualifies Eastman from serving as a legislator. The litigants, who are partisans led by a political activists, say that the Oath Keeper membership is a violation of the Alaska’ Constitution’s “disloyalty clause.”
Oath Keepers as a group have been implicated in the Jan. 6, 2021 disruption of the certification of the Electoral College for the 2020 presidential election. Although Eastman was in Washington, D.C. for the events that included a speech by former President Donald Trump, he never entered the Capitol, as some did.
Resolution: Alaska Republicans in House District 27 call on Anchorage judge to end interference in House election
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