Also: A closer look at Alaska's generous absentee voting policy, which explains why elections officials were still counting ballots two weeks after the election.
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Today in Alaska politics

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Begich defeats Peltola, flipping Alaska’s lone U.S. House seat →

The U.S. House race was ultimately determined by a ranked choice tabulation, which placed Republican Nick Begich III ahead of incumbent Democrat Mary Peltola in a 51.3%-48.7% split. “I am committed to fighting for our jobs and economy, protecting our unique way of life, and ensuring that our voices are heard loud and clear in Washington,” Begich said of his victory.

Ranked choice voting and open primaries retained in Alaska after final ballot count →

Ballot Measure 2 was on track to narrowly fail by a margin of 664 votes after Wednesday's tally. Philip Izon, who launched the repeal initiative, has already indicated he plans to launch a second initiative if this year’s measure proves unsuccessful.

Bipartisan coalition on track for slim margin in Alaska House after ranked choice tabulations →

The batch of around 6,000 ballots tallied Wednesday, which brought the total turnout to over 340,000 voters, flipped the outcome in one state House seat that could prove pivotal for the eventual majority of the chamber.

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Why Alaska was still counting ballots two weeks after Election Day →

Alaska is one of 28 states in which voters do not need a special reason to request an absentee ballot. But Alaska’s timeline is unusually generous. State law allows by-mail ballots to be counted as long as they are received up to two weeks after Election Day.

Former Alaska Rep. LeDoux’s election misconduct trial set to focus on 2 associates →

State prosecutors charged Gabrielle LeDoux in 2020 following accusations that she encouraged people who didn’t live in her district to vote for her in the 2014 and 2018 primary and general elections. Her case appears set to focus on two associates who have pleaded guilty and are slated to testify in the long-awaited trial.

Ex-Alaska prosecutor who blew whistle on Kindred wins settlement over retaliation →

A former federal prosecutor in Alaska has reached a settlement with the Department of Justice after claiming she was retaliated against for reporting U.S. District Court Judge Joshua Kindred’s sexual misconduct. (via Alaska Public Media)


See also: First-ever report on federal judiciary workplace misconduct shows dozens of abuse allegations

Anchorage Assembly passes Mayor LaFrance’s city budget with few changes →

The $638.9 million budget is about $235,000 below the municipality’s estimated tax cap. An effort to include funding in the city budget to explore independent civilian oversight of Anchorage police failed.

Anchorage School Board still ‘wide open’ on proposed school closures →

School board members are seeking more information about the Anchorage School District's proposal to close seven elementary schools over the next three years, raising questions about school capacity and enrollment, the geography of the schools selected, student impact, next steps and more.

In other political news

Trump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdraws →

House Ethics panel was told Gaetz paid two women $10,000, in part for sex →

RFK Jr. wants fluoride out of drinking water. Oregon shows what might be coming. →

Musk and Ramaswamy vow ‘mass head-count reductions’ in the U.S. government →

Police report details sexual assault allegations against defense secretary nominee Hegseth →

Amazon and SpaceX aim to defang the federal labor board. Trump may help. →

New study shows that for Native Americans, voting is harder than ever →

After distancing himself from Project 2025, Trump picks people who worked on it →

What are antipersonnel mines, widely banned weapons Biden is giving Ukraine? →

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