Election winners confirmed, Ortiz to caucus with minority

After about three weeks of tallying, Alaska’s general election results were finally certified by Lieutenant Governor Mead Treadwell on Nov. 26.

Turnout in the state was the third-highest turnout of any state, with 284,925 of the 509,011 registered voters participating. High-profile races and a trio of contentious ballot measures may explain the figures: as a result of the election Alaska has become the fourth state to legalize recreational marijuana use and will tout one of the highest minimum wage levels in the country.

Some of the state’s races remained close until the very end. On an unprecedented unity ticket, Independent candidate Bill Walker beat Republican Gov. Sean Parnell in his re-election bid by only 6,223 votes. Walker’s running mate, Byron Mallott, had until September been the Democratic candidate for governor.

With only a slightly narrower lead, Republican candidate Dan Sullivan unseated Sen. Mark Begich by just 6,014 votes. Per-capita, the Senate race was estimated to be the most expensive in United States history, with $60.7 million spent by four campaigns, or $120 per voter.

Among the smallest of Alaska’s electoral margins, for House District 36 Independent candidate Dan Ortiz finished ahead of Republican Chere Klein by 104 votes. Only the race for House District 21 came closer, with Democrat Matt Claman beating Republican Anand Dubey for the Anchorage-area seat by just 90 votes.

Ortiz is due to replace retiring Rep. Peggy Wilson when the next legislative session begins in January, and is already expected to sit on the committees for Fisheries, Economic Development and Tourism, Community and Regional Affairs and Transportation.

The representative-elect has also announced he will be caucusing with the minority in Juneau. During visits to Wrangell in September and October, Ortiz had assured voters he would be given the opportunity to join either caucus in the Legislature.

One of Klein’s selling points during the campaign had been her certainty to join the Republican-led House Majority, which she had argued would be necessary to keep Southeast-specific issues on the legislative agenda.

Despite Ortiz’ campaign statements, shortly before the Nov. 4 election the Alaska Republican Party had come out with fliers and a joint letter by Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Chenault and Rep. Craig Johnson saying he would not be included in their caucus.

In a statement issued Nov. 19 announcing his inclusion with the House Minority, Ortiz explained this would not be a problem: “Joining the House Democratic Caucus is the right decision for District 36,” it read.

“Unlike the House Majority, the House Democratic Caucus does not bind its members to vote a certain way and as an independent member of the Legislature that’s important to me and the voters who chose to send me to Juneau. I will not be bound by party distinctions and pledge to work in a bi-partisan manner with all members of the Legislature and the new administration of Governor Elect Bill Walker.”

Major issues looming on next session’s agenda include tackling the state’s running budget deficit and whether to expand Medicaid as part of the federal Affordable Care Act. For Southeast, mapping the future of its Alaska Marine Highway System lifeline and addressing concerns posed by sizable Canadian mining projects being developed upstream of major fisheries.