Lawsuits or unrest may be in Alaska’s future after the 2020 General Election is over, if a recent demand letter from Alaska Democrats is any indication. At the very least, the demand letter indicates the level of deep conspiracy-level distrust that leftists have for the election system and their intent to discredit the results.

The Alaska Public Interest Research Group is among other Democratic front organizations flexing their muscles with the demand that candidates sign an oath supporting election demands — demands for conditions that are already met by the checks and balances established in the election process.

It’s another attempt in a long list of attempts by Democrats to change how elections are conducted in Alaska and the U.S.A. and indicate they are queuing up lawsuits they intend to file after the election is certified, if they don’t like the results.

The signers of the demand letter want Republican candidates to outline their personal plan to ensure elections will be fair. This plan must be in writing or social media or by press release by Oct. 26, the group says. There is no “or else” included.

The demands include putting prohibitions on the press.

“We are now asking that you publicly commit to uphold democracy this year, ensuring that regardless of the winners, we swear in a government elected by the people in a free and fair election,” the letter says.

The demands are mostly a restatement of what is already accepted and produced by all elections in America in the present era, and is a partial list of what election workers are paid to do. The demands include:

“We ask you to publicly reassure Alaskans of the following: 

• Every eligible Alaskan voter will have the opportunity to cast their vote on or before November 3rd, without interference or intimidation.
• Every eligible vote will be counted, including vote-by-mail ballots, a safe and secure voting option. Efforts to stop ballot counting before all votes are counted will be recognized as a threat to the democratic process and will not be tolerated.
• Voter intimidation by individuals or groups at polling places and ballot dropbox locations will not be tolerated.
• Unless an opponent concedes after a substantial portion of ALL ballots have been counted, winners will not be declared by candidates, news outlets, or elected officials until the Division of Elections certifies the 2020 General Election (Target date 11/25/20); allowing time for all mail-in ballots to be counted and any reported election irregularities to be investigated and remedied.
• An outline of your plan to ensure that election results will be respected and a peaceful transfer of power will occur will be shared publicly in advance of November 3, 2020.
• The voice of the Alaska people will be heard and accurately represented during the national joint congressional session to confirm election results.“

According to the groups, government officials must prohibit the free press from declaring a winner, and must muzzle the free speech of candidates or their supporters until the government says the election is called.

The group’s letter was signed by hardline Democrats:

• Besse Odom, a registered Democrat from the Poor People’s Campaign
• Evan Anderson, a registered Democrat from the Alaska Center for the Environment Education Fund
• Pamela Miller, a registered Democrat with Alaska Community Action on Toxics
• Alexandra Veri Di Suvero, a registered Democrat and executive director of the Alaska Public Interest Research Group
• Jessica Girard, a registered Democrat, Director Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition
• Theresa Lyons, a registered Democrat, director of YMCA in Anchorage.
• Kendra Kloster, a registered Democrat, Native People’s Action Community Fund
• Siqiniq Maupin, Director for Sovereign Inupiaq for a Living Arctic
• Enei Begaye, Executive Director, Native Movement
• Charlene Apok, registered Democrat, Director of Data for Indigenous Justice
• Reverend Matthew Schultz, registered Democrat, Pastor of Anchorage First Presbyterian Church

Candidate David Nees threw the red flag on the demand:

 “I have observed the Division of elections doing a fine job of enforcing points 1 and 2 in my 40 years of voting in Alaska. Point three is a Federal crime please feel free to use your voice to report violations or get Division of Elections to allow observers at polling places. Good luck with point  four the press always try to declare a winner, But, that said  the current state law about counting absentee is to be followed, especially the postmarked date must be followed, and the state needs to toss out the case for correcting ballots. ‘Peaceful transfer of power’ I toss the B.S. flag. Electoral college process satisfies the verification process,” Nees wrote.

Joe Biden said during Thursday’s debate that as president he would transition the nation away from the oil industry, which is currently the bedrock of the national economy.

America’s oil and natural gas industry generates 10.3 million jobs in the United States and is responsible for 8 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product. 

President Donald Trump responded by quipping: “Oh. There’s a big statement.”

Biden said he would move the nation to zero-emission energy by the year 2035 and bring solar and wind energy into greater usage.

Trump responded that Biden was antagonizing the oil industry, which forms crucial parts of the economies of several red states.

“Will you remember that, Texas? Will you remember that, Pennsylvania? Will you remember that, Oklahoma?” Trump said during his time at the mic.

Trump gave a strong performance in the Thursday debate, but Biden voters were relieved that their candidate did not botch too many opportunities. Biden, who has taken four days off from campaigning to prepare for the debate, appeared to run out of steam by the end of the debate and was caught checking his watch at one point, about 10 minutes before the debate ended.

Power the Future issued a press release after the debate, saying “Joe Biden endangered Alaska’s economy and the industry responsible over a quarter of our private-sector employment.  By reiterating his opposition to fracking on federal lands and in federal waters, he threatened short- and long-term economic growth.  Then, he went one step further and clearly stated that he would “transition from” oil.  Alaskans were demeaned and dumped on by the Vice President tonight. Every Alaskan should be asking how this radical agenda benefits our state.”

By CASSIE LAWVER / CORRESPONDENT

Rep. Sarah Vance and candidate Kelly Cooper took part in two very different forums on Wednesday, as candidates for House District 31, where Vance is the incumbent.

The first forum was broadcast by KBBI, Homer’s public radio station, during the “Coffee Table” show hosted by Kathleen Gustafson. Over the years, KBBI has not been kind to Rep. Sarah Vance. But then, KBBI is generally not kind to any conservative who enters the KBBI broadcasting universe. 

Cooper appeared comfortable and confident as she spoke to the liberal radio audience, her answers aligning with the perspective of left-of-center public radio listeners.

Rep. Sarah Vance spoke with confidence as well. She was prepared for the questions, as well as the follow-up grilling that is Gustafson’s trademark for those who don’t share her opinions.

Gustafson, Homer’s liberal sword for the left, once famously berated Gov. Sarah Palin, when Gustafson unfurled a large sign that read “Worst Governor Ever” during a Palin visit to Homer. Palin approached Gustafson to be friendly, and the two had a lively exchange captured on video and shared around the world:

Gustafson: You swore on your precious Bible that you would uphold the interests of this state, and then when cash was waved in front of your face, you quit.

Palin: OH, you wanted me to be your governor! I’m honored! Thank you!

This was the nature of the trap Vance was walking into on Wednesday, and the questions offered by Gustafson were to be expected.

Most questions to Rep. Vance were prefaced with Gustafson commentary, such as “Representative Vance, you have been posing for pictures all over the state, indoors without a mask at Republican functions….”

The mask question to Kelly was softer: “Do you mask when…you’re wearing a mask right now…”

At one-point, Gustafson interrupted Vance to repeat a question, as Vance was trying to answer it. That badgering did not happen when Gustafson spoke to Cooper.

Through it all, Vance stuck to the facts, with courtesy and confidence, answering every question in what was clearly a hostile environment.

Listen to the KBBI program with Vance and Cooper at this link.

Seven hours later the two were at the Homer Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum, held at the Land’s End Resort.

The chamber had been advertising the forum as “in-person” or “live stream.” But less than 24 hours before the event, candidate Cooper asked the chamber to not allow people to attend.

Thanks to a couple of conservative media groups, Peninsula Radio Group and Must Read Alaska, this reporter was able to attend this forum as their correspondent.

This forum was different from the KBBI approach.

Cooper appeared uncomfortable and while she maintained confidence, her voice lack the excitement and warmth she had while sitting in the KBBI studio talking to the liberal listeners. The chamber forum consists of questions submitted by businesses in the city of Homer.

Vance and Cooper agreed on 4 issues: the Homer deep water port; marine services; voting no on Ballot Measure 2; and moving legislative sessions to somewhere on the road system.

On other issues they disagreed.

Right to life was one of those issues. Cooper is pro-choice. She believes government should not be involved in a woman right to choose or reproductive health.

Vance is pro-life. She believes a child is a gift and we should honor and value life. Women should be supported all along the way and given all
options. Vance supports family unity and adoptions.

One question Cooper never answered was whether she would join a “binding caucus.”

Vance said she was a firm “no” on the binding caucus. When it came to Cooper’s time to answer the question, she instead asked Vance a question about her joining the Republican caucus.

Vance explained that a caucus is a group of like-minded people and that is what she joined with fellow Republicans. What she did not join is a “binding caucus,” which she said would require her to sell her vote on the budget to the majority leader.

After the business owner questions, candidates had five minutes to talk about whatever they wanted. Vance spoke about how she seeks good governance. Cooper used the time to talk about the pandemic. She relies on the science and wears a mask to protect others. She ended by asking others to show a little more grace.

Cassie Lawver of Homer writes for her blog, Changing the Narrative.

A tsunami of voting is occurring in Alaska. But does it mean a high turnout or simply a change in voting patterns as a result of the coronavirus pandemic?

Analysis of one Anchorage district shows that only five percent of the Democrat early voters are new voters, and over 50 percent of the Democrat early voters vote in nearly every election. Over 95 percent of them share an address with someone who votes in nearly single election (a super voter).

Alaskans have requested 138,209 absentee ballots from the Division of Elections, with just two days to go before the deadline passes to request an absentee ballot.

So far, Alaska voters have voted over 64,385 ballots. That includes 11,267 in-person ballots cast since early voting began on Monday, and 49,713 ballots voted and sent in by mail.

The turnout so far compares to 102,284 total absentee, early, and online ballots issued in the 2018 election, and a total of 97,571 of them voted.

As of Thursday morning’s count, that means 66 percent of all the early ballots cast in 2018 have already been cast this year, with 12 days until the election is over.

As usual, House District 28 is voting the most, with 2,411 absentee ballots cast so far — the highest in the state. House District 40, however, only saw 165 voting absentee or early, so far.