JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Two candidates who combined received just over 1% of the vote in Alaska ’s U.S. House primary last week can advance to November’s ranked choice general election.
Matthew Salisbury, a Republican , and John Wayne Howe, who is chairman of the Alaskan Independence Party, can advance, according to results released late Friday by the state Division of Elections. The narrowed field already includes two frontrunners, Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola and Republican Nick Begich.
Alaska’s open primary system advances the top four vote-getters, regardless of party, to the general election. Peltola finished with the most votes in a field of 12 in the Aug. 20 primary, followed by Begich and Republican Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, who was backed by former President Donald Trump. Far behind them were Salisbury and Howe, who led the remaining candidates.
Dahlstrom announced her withdrawal last week, and elections director Carol Beecher said this allowed for the fifth-place finisher to qualify for the November ballot.