Rep. Jesse Sumner, who was once considered a conservative in Wasilla, has now joined the cause to keep ranked-choice voting going in Alaska elections, something that few conservatives in the state support.
Sumner’s name showed up on the ad disclosures that are part of the public files at radio stations. He and Bryan Schroder (law partner of the father of Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system Scott Kendall), as well as political strategist Art Hackney make up the Conservative Majority Fund, which is not registered with Alaska Public Offices Commission but which is clearly attempting to influence voters to defeat Ballot Measure 2.
Ballot Measure 2 provides Alaska’s the opportunity to get rid of the jungle primary and ranked-choice general election system that installed Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Rep. Mary Peltola.
Schroder, some Alaskans may recall, is the former U.S. Attorney for Alaska, thanks to Murkowski, and is also part of the Lisa Murkowski’s extended family, through marriage. Ranked-choice voting, advanced by Murkowski surrogates, was designed to get her around the Republican primary election, which she was no longer able to win.
Earlier this month, Sumner submitted an opinion column that he signed his name to, which supported ranked-choice voting. Must Read Alaska ran it. Sumner did not disclose at the time that he was part of the group intending to sway elections.
The Conservative Majority Fund is telling people that “smart conservatives” will vote to keep ranked-choice voting, and claiming that if it had been in place in an earlier era, Sen. Ted Stevens would have beat Mark Begich. But the ads offer no proof, only wild speculation.
The group can run issue ads to influence the election and it doesn’t have to disclose where its funding comes from just yet because it’s not yet 60 days before the general election, when the matter comes before voters. But this ad is actually running within 30 days of the first military, overseas, and remote Alaska ballots being in the mail. Technically, the group may be advertising legally, but this shows the loophole in the APOC laws governing issue advertising and transparency.
Sumner recently dropped from his race for Alaska House after serving just one term.
Cha Ching?
They chose the name “Conservative Majority Fund” because they want conservatives to vote for it, not because it is conservative.
Likewise, Sumner declared his conservative bona fides because he wanted conservative voters to vote for him, not because he wanted to fight for a conservative agenda in Juneau.
Many Republicans in Juneau gave up fighting for conservative values long ago. All that’s left are the labels they choose for themselves and want you to vote for.
The left demands voting records that reflect their values. Until conservatives demand the same our legislature will continue to make Alaska more progressive with each legislative session.
US SENATOR
It is indeed plaisible that Uncle Ted would have defeated Mark if ranked choice voting were in place in 2008. The margin between Mark and Uncle Ted was 3953 votes. Looking at the
DEM 151767 (Begich)
AI 13197 (Bird)
NA 1385. (Gianoutsos)
LIB 2483 (Haase)
REP 147814 (Stevens)
WRITE IN 1077
Certified final results from elections.alaska.gov
Does one really think that Bob Bird’s 2nd or 3rd choice votes would have gone to Mark?
Murkowski’s name always comes up when the topic is RCV. It is very apparent that her buddy from Maine influenced her strategy on the implementation of RCV in Alaska. Now with the results the Uber Left were wanting, it is all hands on deck to protect their precious RCV. Why, simple only way they can win against a credible candidate.
What gets me is the voters under the normal election process, still can vote in a candidate that they feel most comfortable with. All you have to do is recall the 2010 Federal Senate election. Murkowski lost in the Primary and won in the General election with a write-in campaign. Of course, that leaves too much up to the electorate.
Their ads are bovine scat.
Another RINO! Infuriating for sure. 😡
At least Sumner knows he’s an idiot, and is willing to state it publicly. Murkowski hadn’t figured it out yet. It took her years just to learn how to cheat and pass the Bar Exam.
They are showing me just how much disdain they have for their fellow Alaskans. “The Conservative Majority Fund”…. 🎶”There’s a dead skunk in the middle of the road🎵,
An’ ‘es stinkin’ to high heaven”🎶
-Loudon Wainwright circa ‘72
I’m not resuming voting until they stop RCV in it’s tracks. It’s CHEATING!!!