Listicle: Fun facts about Alaska’s 2024 election

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Rep.-elect Robyn Burke

Number of legislative races that went into ranked-choice voting tabulation: 8

Number of legislators elected who are not with a formal party (but are undeclared Democrats): 5

First woman with a “chatoo” chin tattoo elected to the Alaska Legislature: Robyn Burke of District 40, Utqiagvik, seen above in her campaign photo.

Senate race with most write-in votes: Senate Seat B. Although Sen. Jesse Kiehl, a Democrat, was unopposed and won with 96% of the vote, there were 561 write-in votes in that race, or 3.49% of votes cast.

House race with the most write-in votes: House District 24. Nearly tied — Rep. George Rauscher, a Republican from House District 29, was unopposed and got 95.55% of the vote, but 363 voters wrote in a name, about 4.45%. Rep. Zack Fields, a Democrat from House District 17 was unopposed and won 93.56% of the vote for his reelection, but 361 voters wrote in a name, a higher percentage of about 6.44%.

Senate district with the highest voter turnout: Senate District L, Eagle River, 62.69%

Senate district with the lowest voter turnout: Senate District T, Northwest and Arctic region, 38.71%

Number of Alaska Natives or American Indigenous now in the Legislature: 9 — Jubilee Underwood, (Cherokee), Mike Cronk, Donny Olson, Lyman Hoffman, Robyn Burke, Nellie Jimmie, Bryce Edgmon, Neal Foster, Maxine Dibert.

Number of former legislator who were elected this year: 3 — Mia Costello, Chuck Kopp, David Nelson, all elected to the House.

The most number of votes won in a race where there was opposition: Rep. Alyse Galvin of Anchorage, 77.6%

Women rule: This is the first time that the Alaska House has had a majority of women members. No more victim card?

Who did the best in their own hometown? Darren Deacon got 90% of the vote for House District 37 in his hometown of Lower Kalskag, where people know him best. He ended up losing to Rep. Bryce Edgmon, the incumbent.

The Trumpiest precincts in Alaska: Small precinct Dot Lake in District 36, where over 91.8% of the vote went for Trump. Large precinct Delta, with 87% for Trump.

The precincts that went most heavy for Harris: Small precinct Allakaket in District 36, where 92.1% voted for Kamala Harris. Large precinct Downtown Juneau No. 2, with 77.83% for Harris.

Huge swing: Margin of victory for Mary Peltola in last election was 10; this time she lost by 3, so this was a 13% swing into the loss column.

David and Goliath: $11 million to $2 million were the campaign fundraising totals by Rep. Mary Peltola and challenger Nick Begich in the congressional race.

Flips: Alaska’s was only one of five seats to flip from Democrat to Republican nationwide out of over 200 Democrat-held seats.

Generational: When Nick Begich 1 went to Congress, his son, Nick Begich II, was 12. When Nick Begich III goes to Congress, his son Nick Begich IV will be 12.

22 COMMENTS

  1. Is Mary Peltola still seeking a campaign donation? I have an ivory oosik to donate to her. Good condition. Hardly used.

  2. With all the women in the legislature, is there going to be an inquiry by them to look into Chuck Kopp’s sexual harassment allegation while he was the chief of police in Kenai? If they are going yo be adamant about women’s rights being violated, this would be a first good step to start an inquiry.

  3. Thank you for giving Darren Deacon a mention. If we get behind Bush conservatives like Darren and Thomas Baker, we CAN overthrow the hegemony of the left in rural Alaska.

  4. It’s called a tavluġun or a chin tattoo. You calling it a “chatoo” is very dismissive and disrespectful. Embarrassing behavior.

  5. I can’t believe you are making fun of someone who is displaying traditional artwork that symbolizes being a married woman (“chatoo” chin tattoo”). I thought you wanted women married? Now you are denigrating their display of their marital status because you don’t understand their culture. You wouldn’t be making fun of her if she was wearing a western culture wedding band…

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