Cross-Partisan Coalition of Alaskans Will Defend Open Primaries, Dark Money Disclosure

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

As expected, the Alaska Division of Elections has now certified the proposal to repeal Alaska’s open primary, ranked choice voting, and dark money disclosure laws for the ballot in 2026. This will force Alaskans to relitigate the same issue for the third time in six years. 

In response, a cross-partisan group of Alaska leaders has registered the ballot committee Protect Alaska’s Elections (PAE) with APOC. Now that repeal has qualified for the ballot, PAE will move to formally launch its “Vote No” campaign over the coming months. 

Opponents of repeal offered the following comments. 

“Here they go again… Dark money groups are back to waste Alaskans’ time and money for a third time. When will these sore losers learn to take no for an answer?” – Bronson Frye (Chair—PAE, Business Rep—IUPAT AK Local 1959, reg. independent) 

“Rural Alaska and Alaska Native communities have consistently voted in support of election reform. That’s because we want an election system that works for all Alaskans and reflects Alaska’s independent values, not one that is rigged by the national political parties and out-of-state interests.” 

– Nicole Borromeo (President, Alaska Regional Association, registered independent) 

“When politicians are able to seize more power with the help of dark-money campaign donations, corruption sets in. But Alaska’s uniquely strong disclosure rules require campaigns to report the true source of their funding, shining a light on the dark money. Why would we ever get rid of that?” 

– Cathy Giessel (Majority Leader—Alaska Senate, registered Republican) 

“We do things differently in Alaska. We’re the only state that forces politicians to appeal to as many voters as possible in order to win a majority. That’s why we’re the only state in the country with politicians actually working across party lines to create governing majorities and get things done. Our current system is what makes that possible.” – Joelle Hall (President, Alaska AFL-CIO, registered Democrat) 

Contact

Bronson Frye, Chair, Protect Alaska’s Elections
907-351-8481

###