By suzanne downing 
Alaska’s local elections this week brought results that were neither a cause for celebration nor despair – a reminder that political fortunes in the 49th state rarely move in a straight line. Remember going from Gov. Sean Parnell to Gov. Bill Walker for governor in 2014, and then to Gov. Mike Dunleavy in 2018 – whiplash!
Across the state, voters sent mixed messages on leadership and taxation, leaving both conservatives and progressives with reasons to wring their hands.
In Fairbanks, a strong and effective conservative mayor was unseated by a Democrat who had the full backing of the party machine and the dark-money network of the Alaska Center (for the Environment ) – a group with deep ties to Outside funding sources like the Arabella network. The 54-45.7 loss to Democrat control a disappointing outcome for those who value local control and fiscal restraint in the Golden Heart City. The Fairbanks North Star Borough itself is also under Democrat control with Mayor Grier Hopkins.
Further south, in Palmer, turnout was abysmally low – a discouraging sign in a community that has historically leaned conservative and prided itself on civic engagement. Apathy, it seems, was the biggest winner in the Mat-Su this year.
But not all the news is bleak. Down in Juneau – the state’s liberal stronghold – the early returns suggest that voters may be ready to rethink the city’s tax structure, offering a small but surprising glimmer of hope for fiscal reformers.
Proposition 2, which repeals the city sales tax on essential food and non-commercial utilities, passed by a wide margin – 4,173 yes votes to 1,867 no votes. That’s a clear message that even in Juneau, residents have had enough of being taxed on life’s necessities.
The other two ballot measures are tighter. Proposition 1, which would cap property tax mill rates, leads by 184 votes – and could very well hold. Proposition 3, which would create a seasonal sales tax rate aimed at tourists, trails by about 1,000 votes. That measure might sound like a way to make visitors shoulder more of the burden, but in practice it also hurts seasonal workers and retirees who leave town for several weeks in the winter, when the tax would be lifted.
Meanwhile, the only contested Assembly seat in Juneau’s District 2 is going to be a nail-biter. Challenger Nano Brooks currently holds a three-vote lead over incumbent Wade Bryson – too close to call until all ballots are counted.
So far, Juneau’s election officials have tallied just over 6,000 ballots, representing roughly half of the expected total based on past turnout. Final results won’t be known until Oct. 21, when all absentee and questioned ballots are included.
In Ketchikan, it was a mix of liberal and conservative wins. Borough Assemblyman Austin Otos will be the new borough mayor. He is a nonpartisan, while Jamie Palmer, who lost by 270 votes, is an undeclared. Mayor Rodney Dial, a conservative, and Glen Thompson, also conservative, will be on the Assembly, and liberal Dan Ortiz (former House representative) will get a one-year term.
The early takeaway is that Alaska’s political currents are as unpredictable as ever. Conservatives lost ground in Fairbanks and struggled to mobilize voters in Palmer, but they may find a small win in the heart of blue Juneau, where the message of tax relief appears to be resonating.
It’s a reminder that while politics may feel polarized, Alaskans still have an independent streak. They may not always vote red or blue in local races, but they can and sometimes do vote with their wallets. But if the Alaska Republican Party continues to maintain its position that these local races are nonpartisan, Alaska will continue to turn blue, as Democrats use these school board and council/assembly seats as their farm team for higher offices. It’s a warning shot over the bow to the Republican Party.
Suzanne Downing
I have no patience for the lazy people who do not vote. They deserve a one way ticket to a third world country. Other than an emergency or a sudden bout of an acute illness, there is no excuse.
In that case I hope you are I favor of mail-in voting. It dramatically increases turnout.
Really Hans? Mail-in ballots dramatically increase the opportunity for fraud.
Mail in ballots (not absentee) dramatically increase vote fraud.
AKGop members can’t only focus on State races while their districts or community councils are neglected their attendance at meeting and participation. This will lead to AkGoP eventually losing every single state race because they don’t know their neighborhoods and neighbors.
*and the current Republican strategy its trying to use to win the 2026 gubnatorial race by putting as many candidates as they can is wasting the party’s time when it should be unifying voters not confusing them.
Why doesn’t the AKGoP district leaders and members listen to you
You been writing about this for years and you been around them a lot longer than me.
I’d hate to see the rest of Alaska turn out like Juneau and Southeast Alaska
Their kind of life is not good for the majority
Meeting upon other Republicans, Conservatives, Christians ignorance not to see they must attend and participate in local community councils and boards, their ignorance (maybe even stupidity) is very discouraging.
Not every Alaskan is like them with money and job skills they can’t leave Alaska when it gets too hard under Democrat policies forcing those with money and better education and job skills to relocate.
So disappointed in stay at home conservatives this cycle. The differences are stark and tending towards existential and turnout was awful. Kodiak went hard left both in town and in the borough.
I know you are looking forward SD – and kudos to you for that – but very poor coverage in MRAK this election cycle. Hardly any coverage at all before or after. We need as many oars in the water as possible so I hope they get their act together. I look forward to the end of your non-compete SD, so you can fully engage.
MRAK is a sunken ship.
The current board leadership are members of the AkGoP who are the problems to why AKGoP ship is taking in water.
Don’t sugarcoat MRAK today that it’ll get its act together. MRAK’s ship started taking water in it the day Ms Downing stepped back and limped along. Those leaders didn’t know their Right from their left, they won’t know the difference until those Alaskans humble themselves before the Cross.
It’s sad for Alaska but MRAK was Ms Downing. Thinking about the Bible, scripture tells people to move forward and that is train up the next generation, work hard, and keep one’s eyes looking upward.
If one doesn’t have kids. Find youth and young adults or 40-something millennials to train up so there are more than one “Ms Downings”
Tina, you are right about MRAK. I noticed it immediately after Suzanne resigned. To this day not one email from them has shown up in my inbox. With Suzanne in charge those emails came often.
My advice is
First Know the Word of God gleaning its wisdom so one can develop discernment. Second find someone or some people on Alaska you know who are 100% on the Right side and invest in them and build them up to carry the Right’s flag of Freedom, Life, Faith, and financial prosperity.
There are plenty of Alaskans not living up to what they are capable but they are ignored or overlooked.
Suzanne can’t be on carrying this banner forever that she brought to Alaska modeling the example we admire. depending sorely on her isn’t fair for her, when each Republican. conservative, or real Christian should had stepped up five years ago with Courage that is spoken to Joshua in the Bible and do what God calls out of each of to do it scared. Republican and Conservative Alaskans they can use the excuse to be scared stepping forward. Christians do not have that excuse to lack courage in not getting more active attending council meetings and even serving as council officers.
Out of the people I know to be moderately to extremely interested in politics, somehow I was the only one who knew Tuesday was election day. Until election day for local elections is held when statewide and nationwide elections are held turnout will be poor and conservative turnout will be abysmal. There is a movement to join these election dates and the people of the Kenai Borough overwhelmingly just chose to do so.
That’s like wishing in one hand and pooping in the other to wonder which one is filled first?
If Alaskan Republicans, Conservstives, and Christians Really cared about their community and neighborhood, they had five years to flip local control if they attended more meetings and helped like minded neighbors to elect one another by a vote of hands to councils.
Their excuse is they don’t care! As long as they still have enough moving money to flee the state of Alaska while leaving vulnerable Alaskans at the mercy of crooks
Everything is spiritual….. everything. The leftists actually believe it is their responsibility to straighten out our world, armed only with their own massive wisdom. Too many so-called conservatives think the same way. Until we, as a nation, right down to our local community level, take seriously His Word in 2Chron 7:14, our nation, and our community will continue to degrade. We must act on faith in Him.
Look it up: 2Chron 7:14.
Wonderful application of Scripture Wayne. Just one question: did you vote in this local election?
Fairbanks is about to go the way of lostanchorage, because the labor unions got enough people to vote to turn left.
Of course I voted. I imagine anyone taking the time to comment on here is most probably the type to exercise their right to vote. In Juneau, we actually did very well compared to the rest of local elections in Alaska. It appears our success resulted from a few constitutional patriots putting in the effort to educate and motivate voters to stop leftist rot in our borough.