Alaska bets on ranked voting as chaotic primary reshapes key races

Alaska’s primary wrapped in chaos, with several top contenders advancing and Democrat-led outcomes in some races prompting debate about ranked-choice voting. Former state lawmakers Begich withdrew and endorsed Kreiss-Tomkins, setting up Kreiss-Tomkins against Republican rivals in the governor race, while the U.S. Senate and House contests stay highly contested amid GOP divisions on whether to embrace a “rank the red” approach. Advocates say the system expands voter choices; opponents argue it undermines traditional party dynamics. The results will test ranked voting’s impact in Alaska’s political landscape.