Anchorage’s Petroleum Club hosted a Lincoln‑Douglas style debate on September 28, featuring former Alaska Attorney General Craig Richards and attorney Scott Kendall. The event, organized by Commonwealth North and moderated by board member Jon Katchen, gave each side equal time for opening statements, cross‑examination, rebuttals and audience questions.

Why Measure 2 Matters to Alaskans

Measure 2 would repeal the 2020 electoral reforms that introduced ranked‑choice voting, the top‑four “jungle” primary and expanded campaign‑finance disclosure requirements. Supporters argue the reforms have complicated elections and give an advantage to well‑funded, party‑aligned candidates.

Richards’ Case for Repeal

Richards, representing the Repeal Now coalition, described the 2020 package as a “logroll funded by liberal mega‑donors.” He warned that jungle primaries can split a party’s vote, citing the 2022 special election where Republican candidates Sarah Palin and Nick Begich divided the GOP vote, allowing Democrat Mary Peltola to win. Richards also claimed roughly 15,000 ballots were discarded before Peltola’s 5,296‑vote margin, despite about 60 % of first‑round votes going to non‑Democrats.

He argued that ranked‑choice voting “trashes” ballots when voters fail to rank every candidate and encourages strategic gamesmanship, pointing to Tom Begich’s withdrawal from the 2026 governor’s race, which left one Democrat against three Republicans.

Kendall’s Defense of the System

Kendall, a co‑author of the 2020 measure and former chief of staff to Gov. Bill Walker, countered that Alaska’s electorate is uniquely independent. He noted that roughly 64 % of Alaskans are nonpartisan or undeclared, accounting for about 62 % of primary turnout, and that 53 % do not vote a straight party ticket.

According to Kendall, repeal would enable parties to shut nonpartisans out of primaries, while ranked‑choice voting produces majority winners and prevents vote‑splitting. He asserted that ballot spoilage under the current system is at or below pre‑2020 levels and quoted a 2002 Alaska Republican Party line describing ranked‑choice voting as “good government at its best.”

Potential Impact on Primary Structure

Kendall warned that Measure 2 could lead to closed primaries, as the bill’s language would give each major party the statutory power to bar nonpartisan and undeclared voters. He referenced an August 31 report that the Alaska Supreme Court left in place ballot language beginning “This act would get rid of open primaries,” after an August 27 order that added only a note on separating governor and lieutenant governor elections.

Repeal Now responded that the phrasing is misleading: a yes vote would end the single all‑candidate ballot and top‑four advance, returning Alaska to party ballots on which independents could still vote. Kendall acknowledged that a yes vote would revert the state to the pre‑2020 default primary system.

Money and Disclosure Concerns

Richards argued that the 2020 disclosure rules impose a one‑sided reporting burden and that pre‑2020 disclosure was sufficient. Kendall countered that the current law exposed repeal‑side donors, including Elon Musk’s $1.5 million contribution and Pennsylvania billionaire Jeff Yass’s support, and that repeal would reopen anonymous giving through intermediaries. He described disclosure as the “antiseptic that protects elections.”

Richards maintained that the rules are gameable and that a clean repeal would allow the Legislature to rewrite them later.

What Voters Should Know

Alaska adopted ranked‑choice voting in 2020, and a 2024 repeal attempt failed by 743 votes after a recount. Measure 2 is back on the ballot for the November 3 election. The debate underscored the core arguments: supporters see the reforms as unnecessary complexity that favors party insiders, while opponents view them as safeguards that ensure majority outcomes and protect nonpartisan voters.

Anchorage residents and Alaskans statewide are encouraged to review the arguments, consider how the changes would affect primary participation and ballot integrity, and cast an informed vote on November 3.

Original reporting: Must Read Alaska (Anchorage) — read the source article.