Alaska Democratic Party
Alaska Democratic Party | |
---|---|
Chairperson | Mike Wenstrup |
House Leader | Calvin Schrage(Independent,Minority Caucus) |
Senate Leader | N/A (Bipartisan Coalition) |
Headquarters | 2602 Fairbanks St., Anchorage, Alaska99503-2428 |
Membership(2022) | 79,147[1] |
Ideology | Modern liberalism |
National affiliation | Democratic Party |
Colors | Blue |
Seats in theU.S. Senate | 0 / 2
|
Seats in theU.S. House of Representatives | 1 / 1
|
Statewide Executive Offices | 0 / 2
|
Seats in theState Senate | 9 / 20[a]
|
Seats in theState House of Representatives | 13 / 40[b]
|
Website | |
www.alaskademocrats.org | |
TheAlaska Democratic Partyis the affiliate of theDemocratic PartyinAlaska,headquartered inAnchorage.
It is one of two major parties in Alaska, alongside theAlaska Republican Party.The Democratic Party holdsAlaska's at-large congressional seat,as well as theAlaska Senatein a coalition government.[a][2]As of 2020, there are over 75,000 registered members of the Alaska Democratic Party.[3]
History[edit]
In 1949, the Young Democrats of Alaska was established as a group.[4]Except in U.S. presidential elections, the Alaska Democratic Party was very successful in the early days of statehood and the late territory days (pre-1959), featuring such characters as territorial governor and later national senatorErnest Gruening.Gruening was one of only two senators to vote against the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which authorized an expansion of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.Bob Bartlett,also a Democrat, and erstwhile secretary of the territory, was the first senator from Alaska, and remained a senator until his death in 1968.William A. Egan,also of the Alaska Democratic Party, was elected the first governor of the State of Alaska. Until the election of governor Bill Walker, he was the only governor of Alaska of either party to have been born in Alaska. In theU.S. Housemeanwhile, DemocratRalph J. Riverswas the state's first representative from statehood until 1967.
In the aftermath of the assassination of Martin Luther King,Ted Kennedy,representing Senator Robert Kennedy (of New York), in the presence of Senator Gruening, gave a historic speech on the island-community ofSitka, Alaska.[5][6]DemocratMike Gravelwas elected to the U.S. Senate in 1968 and served for two terms until his defeat in the Democratic primary in 1980 (Republicans ultimately picked up the seat in the general). By the end of 1973, Gravel was the only Alaska Democrat remaining in federal office, as the state'sHouse seatand other Senate seat had switched hands to Republicans. After Gravel left office, Democrats would not hold any seats in Alaska's congressional delegation again for almost three decades.
Notable U.S. House elections[edit]
On October 16, 1972, Alaska's incumbent Democratic congressmanNick Begichwent missing in a plane crash along withHouse Majority LeaderHale Boggsen route toJuneaufromAnchorage.In spite of this, three weeks later, Begichwon re-electionto his seat. However, he was later declared dead on December 29 of that year after an intensive search effort.[7]Neither Begich's body nor the plane he flew on were ever found.
In aspecial electionheld shortly thereafter in 1973, RepublicanDon Young(who had previously lost to the late Begich) won election to the seat and held it until his death while in office in 2022. In thespecial electionheld after Young's death, DemocratMary Peltolawon Alaska's at-large congressional seat, flipping the seat to Democrats for the first time in almost 50 years.[8]Peltola would beelecteda full term in November of that year.
Other recent history[edit]
The most recent Democrat to serve asGovernor of AlaskawasTony Knowles,who served from 1994 to 2002, while the most recent Democrat to hold statewide executive office in Alaska wasByron Mallott,who served as Lieutenant Governor underindependentgovernorBill Walkerfrom 2014 until his resignation in 2018 after a scandal.[9]
DemocratBarack Obamawon the2008 Democratic caucusesin Alaska by a margin of more than three to one over Hillary Clinton, a higher percentage than any state except Idaho. He then received 37.89 percent of the total statewide vote in thegeneral election,losing the state to RepublicanJohn McCain,who had selected then-Alaska GovernorSarah Palinas his vice-presidential running mate. In the same election year, DemocratMark Begichnarrowly wonelectionto the U.S. Senate over longtime Republican incumbentTed Stevens.Begichlost re-electionin 2014,[10]the same year that Democratic-endorsed independentBill Walkerdefeatedincumbent RepublicanSean Parnellfor Governor.[11]
In2012,President Obama lost the state to RepublicanMitt Romneybut increased his percentage of the statewide vote to 40.81%. This was later used as evidence in a high-profile New York Times article detailing the complexity of Alaska politics and the difficulty in predicting the electability of Democrats in the state.[12]In2016,Republican presidential candidateDonald Trumpcarried the state by around fifteen percentage points overHillary Clinton.No Democrat has carried Alaska in presidential elections since1964whenLyndon B. Johnsonhad his landslide victory overBarry Goldwater.
Following the2022 Alaska Senate elections,nine Democrats joined with eight Republicans to form a majority caucus and split several senate posts between them.[13]
Party organization[edit]
Party leadership[edit]
The leadership of the Alaska Democratic Party consists of the following individuals:[14]
- Chair - Mike Wenstrup
- 1st Vice Chair - Casey Steinau
- Secretary - Katherine Pfeiffer
- Treasurer - Monica Southworth
- National Committeewoman - Brenda Knapp
- National Committeeman -Charles Degnan
Party functions[edit]
The Alaska Democratic Party performs many functions, all with the aim of helping Democrats to win elected office within the state.
These functions include:[3]
- The organization and recruitment of citizens to go door to door for the party and promote the party issues and candidates.
- The coordination of statewide campaigns for the general election every two years.
- Working to get articles into newspapers, letters to the editors written, and callers on talk radio stations.
- Operating the official Alaska Democratic Party website.
- Sending out email announcements to Democrats regarding party activities.
- Operating a state Voter File.
Current elected officials[edit]
Members of Congress[edit]
U.S. Senate[edit]
- None
U.S. House of Representatives[edit]
District | Member | Photo |
---|---|---|
At-large | Mary Peltola |
Ideology[edit]
From the Alaska Democratic Party Platform, Nome, Alaska 2014:[15]
"Platform Summary Energy, Education, and Alaska Values:
ENERGY:
Resource development:
Alaska's Constitution requires that we obtain the "maximum benefit" from resource development. Alaska Democrats support the bipartisan concept of the Owner State and will work to control our own resources.
Affordable Energy:
Delivering affordable energy to all Alaskans must be a top priority for the legislature.
Short Term:
Restore an oil production tax structure that rewards development and maximizes returns to Alaskans Support energy efficiency investments that pay for themselves; Prioritize energy investments.
Long Term:
Get natural gas to market and maximize the benefit for Alaskans; Expand renewable/alternative energy production.
EDUCATION:
Human capital is our most valuable natural resource. Investing non-renewable resource profits in our children will pay sustained dividends for Alaska.
Short Term:
Finish University of Alaska engineering facilities; Ensure classroom funding keeps pace with inflation.
Long Term:
Establish universal voluntary Pre-K; Reduce class sizes; Ensure vocational and technical training opportunities are available for all Alaska job seekers; Expand research capacity of the University of Alaska;
ALASKA VALUES:
The state legislature should support Alaska values of self-reliance, subsistence, personal privacy, government restraint, and balanced budgets.
Short Term:
Support Medicaid Expansion; Protect the Permanent Fund Dividend; Protect Alaskans' right to self-reliance; Defend Alaskans' Right to Privacy; Protect Alaskans' property from government seizure; Support active duty and veteran service members; Re-establish the Alaska Commission on the Status of Women; Protect Alaska's Constitutional language prohibiting use of public funding for private schools;
Long Term:
Expand Denali Kid Care; Equality of Voting Access for rural and urban areas; Support active duty and veteran service members; Equal pay for equal work; Expand child care assistance for working families; Support local food production; Protect Alaskans' retirement savings. "
Election results[edit]
Presidential[edit]
Election | Presidential Ticket | Votes | Vote % | Electoral votes | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1960 | John F. Kennedy/Lyndon B. Johnson | 29,809 | 49.06% | 0 / 3
|
Won |
1964 | Lyndon B. Johnson/Hubert Humphrey | 44,329 | 65.91% | 3 / 3
|
Won |
1968 | Hubert Humphrey/Edmund Muskie | 35,411 | 42.65% | 0 / 3
|
Lost |
1972 | George McGovern/Sargent Shriver | 32,967 | 34.61% | 0 / 3
|
Lost |
1976 | Jimmy Carter/Walter Mondale | 44,058 | 35.65% | 0 / 3
|
Won |
1980 | Jimmy Carter/Walter Mondale | 41,842 | 26.41% | 0 / 3
|
Lost |
1984 | Walter Mondale/Geraldine Ferraro | 62,007 | 29.87% | 0 / 3
|
Lost |
1988 | Michael Dukakis/Lloyd Bentsen | 72,584 | 36.27% | 0 / 3
|
Lost |
1992 | Bill Clinton/Al Gore | 78,294 | 30.29% | 0 / 3
|
Won |
1996 | Bill Clinton/Al Gore | 80,380 | 33.27% | 0 / 3
|
Won |
2000 | Al Gore/Joe Lieberman | 69 | 27.67% | 0 / 3
|
Lost |
2004 | John Kerry/John Edwards | 111,025 | 35.52% | 0 / 3
|
Lost |
2008 | Barack Obama/Joe Biden | 123,594 | 37.89% | 0 / 3
|
Won |
2012 | Barack Obama/Joe Biden | 122,640 | 40.81% | 0 / 3
|
Won |
2016 | Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine | 116,454 | 36.55% | 0 / 3
|
Lost |
2020 | Joe Biden/Kamala Harris | 153,778 | 42.77% | 0 / 3
|
Won |
Gubernatorial[edit]
Election | Gubernatorial candidate | Votes | Vote % | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1958 | William A. Egan | 29,189 | 59.61% | Won |
1962 | William A. Egan | 29,627 | 52.27% | Won |
1966 | William A. Egan | 32,065 | 48.37% | Lost |
1970 | William A. Egan | 42,309 | 52.38% | Won |
1974 | William A. Egan | 45,553 | 47.37% | Lost |
1978 | Chancy Croft | 25,656 | 20.22% | Lost |
1982 | Bill Sheffield | 89,918 | 46.12% | Won |
1986 | Steve Cowper | 84,943 | 47.31% | Won |
1990 | Tony Knowles | 60,201 | 30.91% | Lost |
1994 | Tony Knowles | 87,693 | 41.08% | Won |
1998 | Tony Knowles | 112,879 | 51.27% | Won |
2002 | Fran Ulmer | 94,216 | 40.70% | Lost |
2006 | Tony Knowles | 97,238 | 40.97% | Lost |
2010 | Ethan Berkowitz | 96,519 | 37.67% | Lost |
2014 | EndorsedBill Walker(Independent) | N/A | N/A | Did not run |
2018 | Mark Begich | 125,739 | 44.41% | Lost |
2022 | Les Gara | 63,755 | 24.21% | Lost |
See also[edit]
- Political party strength in Alaska
- List of state parties of the Democratic Party (United States)
- 2020 Alaska Democratic primary
Notes[edit]
- ^ab9 Democrats are part of agrand coalitionwith 8 Republicans.
- ^11 Democrats are part of a minority caucus with 1 Republican and 4Independents.2 Democrats caucus with the 19 Republicans and 2 Independents that make up the majority coalition.
References[edit]
- ^"Alaska Division of Elections".
- ^"Partisan composition of state houses".Ballotpedia.
- ^ab"Alaska Democrats - What We Do".Retrieved2020-02-20.
- ^"Akyd".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-01-13.Retrieved2015-10-24.
- ^"Senator Kennedy talks to the Alaska Democratic Party about civil rights".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-04.Retrieved2015-10-24.
- ^"AMRC. Steve McCutcheon Collection".vilda.alaska.edu.
- ^"The Mysterious disappearance of Cessna N1812H".15 August 2019.Retrieved2019-09-26.
- ^Gedeon, Joseph (August 31, 2022)."Democrat Peltola beats Palin in Alaska special election upset".POLITICO.RetrievedSeptember 1,2022.
- ^"The plot thickens on Mallott resignation".mustreadalaska.com.18 October 2018.Retrieved2019-09-26.
- ^"AP: Sullivan beats Begich in Alaska".POLITICO.
- ^Jaime Fuller (19 November 2014)."A bipartisan 'unity ticket' actually won this year. That's rare".Washington Post.
- ^"Alaska Might Be More Friendly to Democrats Than It Appears".The New York Times.21 August 2014.
- ^"Alaska Democrats, Republicans form coalition Senate majority".AP NEWS.2022-11-26.Retrieved2023-04-22.
- ^"Our Leadership".Retrieved2021-08-07.
- ^"Party platform"(PDF).static1.squarespace.com.Retrieved2021-01-16.