2024 Alaska state elections

House and Senate leaders said early results were promising for bipartisan coalitions that focus on education funding and public retirement reform.

Ranked choice voting and open primaries were voted down in several states. Alaska’s effort to repeal the system is still too close to call.

On the line is control of both legislative chambers, which can have a significant impact on the types of bills that become law and how the Legislature works with Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

The former president had 55.6% of the vote in Alaska’s presidential election.

All Alaska judges on the ballot appeared to be heading for retention as election results began to come in Tuesday night, though some by narrower margins than others.

Voters weighed in on races for president, U.S. House and the Alaska House and Senate, along with ballot measures on the state’s minimum wage and ranked choice voting.

With more than 255,000 ballots counted, 50.9% of votes were in favor of a ballot measure to repeal Alaska’s voting system.

The measure would also provide guaranteed sick leave to most workers, and prohibit employers from punishing employees for declining to attend meetings of a political or religious nature, used in some cases to dissuade unionizing.

Republican challenger Nick Begich III was ahead of Democratic incumbent Rep. Mary Peltola, with tens of thousands of ballots left to be counted.

Polls opened across the state Tuesday morning, but not in St. George and Wales. Polls are open statewide until 8 p.m.

Polls open on Election Day across Alaska at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

By Sunday evening, over 23,900 voters in the Anchorage area and over 61,900 people statewide have cast early ballots

The measure on the November ballot would increase the minimum wage from $11.73 per hour now to $13 per hour in 2025, $14 per hour in 2026, and $15 per hour in 2027.

Supporters of the election system are focused on keeping open primaries. Opponents say ranked choice voting is complicated and convoluted.

At least 91 voters in Dillingham, Aniak and King Salmon were given ballots for the fourth judicial district, instead of the third.

Begich and Peltola have busy weekends planned ahead of the Nov. 5 election.

One Anchorage resident has spent $186,000 on Alaska’s legislative races this year.

Republicans have largely been unwilling to serve in a caucus with Eastman, arguing that he’s an obstructionist and likely to attack and deride his GOP colleagues.

Progressive and moderate candidates continue to draw more spending than conservative Republicans.

Incumbent Bjorkman had a four-point advantage over Carpenter in the primary — Wegener trailed with 12% of the vote.

A growing number of residents in Southcentral Alaska have voted against retaining judges, which has caused concerns for some in Alaska’s legal profession.

A state report says groups that backed a ballot measure to repeal Alaska’s voting system have continued to flaunt campaign reporting requirements.

A freshman lawmaker from Bethel faces a tough challenge from a first-time candidate from an outlying village in a race affected by divisions over a controversial mine.

A retirement overhaul could have far-reaching consequences for tens of thousands of state employees and their families, and many say it could help address the state’s challenges in recruiting and keeping employees in key sectors. Opponents say it could saddle the state with an unmanageable financial commitment.

The candidates in Alaska’s high-stakes U.S. House race met Monday for a final time before the November election.