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President Trump went to Wasilla this week and told Alaskans to vote “yes” on Ballot Measure 2. He called ranked‑choice voting a “Democrat scam” and warned it can flip a clear first‑place finish into a loss after rounds of secret math. This was not a lecture. It was a campaign order: repeal the system, protect the ballot, and save the Senate seat that needs saving.
Trump’s Wasilla Rally and Ballot Measure 2
At the rally, President Trump made the case simple and blunt. He urged voters to back Ballot Measure 2 because a “yes” vote would undo the top‑four primary and the ranked‑choice general election. That is what the ballot measure does: it restores straight party primaries and single‑choice voting in the general. Trump tied the policy point to politics. He told voters this system can be gamed and that Alaska shouldn’t wait to find out the hard way.
What’s at Stake: Dan Sullivan and the “Spoiler” Problem
The Senate race is the obvious reason Trump showed up. Republicans fear a confusing ranked‑choice count could let a strategically placed candidate change the outcome without ever winning. This year a second Dan Sullivan was put back on the ballot after a court fight, proving the exact trouble Trump warned about. When names, rules, and transfers matter more than votes, the result stops being clear. Voters deserve a system they can follow without a law degree or a conspiracy theory forum.
How Ranked‑Choice Works — In Plain Terms
Under Alaska’s current rules, four candidates advance from the open primary. In the general, voters may rank up to four choices. If no one wins a majority of first‑choice votes, the last‑place candidate is dropped and their votes shift to the next choice. This repeats until someone tops 50 percent. Sounds neat on paper. But it can leave first‑place finishers out in the cold after several rounds. For most voters, that looks like a trick. For opponents, it looks like an invitation to play games.
Why Repeal Makes Sense
Republicans should stop treating process obsessions as inevitable. Ballot rules are not sacred. They are tools. If a rule hides winners behind rounds of reallocation, remove the rule. Vote yes on Ballot Measure 2 to restore simple, single‑choice elections where the person with the most votes wins. Call it common sense, call it plain democracy — whatever you call it, Alaskans deserve clarity, not smoke and mirrors. Trump wasn’t grandstanding; he was telling voters to take the remedy into their own hands. Do it.
