- Alaska Democratic Party
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Alaska Democratic Party Chairman Patti Higgins Senate leader None (Coalition) House leader Beth Kerttula Ideology American Liberalism
ProgressivismNational affiliation Democratic Party Official colors Red and Blue Website Official website Politics of the United States
Political parties
ElectionsContents
Introduction
The Alaska Democratic Party is the primary Democratic Party political organization in the state of Alaska, headquartered in Anchorage.[1]
It is one of the two major parties in Alaska. Following the elections of 2008, Democrats hold no statewide executive offices. However, they do help comprise a coalition in the Alaska Senate which is the majority "party".
At the federal level, Democrats hold one of the U.S. Senate seats.
The state's most prominent Democrat is its junior U.S. Senator Mark Begich, the former Mayor of Anchorage who narrowly defeated incumbent Republican Ted Stevens in 2008. Other notable Democrats from Alaska include former Governor Tony Knowles and Ethan Berkowitz who almost defeated U.S. Representative Don Young (R-Alaska) in 2008.
Currently there are over 75,000 registered members of the Alaska Democratic Party.[2]
History
Democrat Barack Obama received 37.89 percent of the total statewide vote in Alaska and lost the state to Republican John McCain in 2008, who selected former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential running mate.
No Democrat has carried Alaska in presidential elections since 1964 when Lyndon B. Johnson had his landslide victory over Barry Goldwater.
Party Organization
Party Leadership
The Executive Committee of the Alaska Democratic Party consists of the following individuals:[3]
- State Chair - Patti Higgins
- Finance Chair - Rocky Plotnick
- Secretary - Carolyn Covington
- Treasurer - Nanci Jones
- Past State Chair - Jake Metcalfe
- National Committee Man - Ian Olson
- National Committee Woman - Cindy Spanyers
- Vice Chair (Anchorage)- Barbara Gazaway
- Vice Chair (Anchorage)- Rod McCoy
- Vice Chair (Kenai/Kodiak/Mat-Su)- Blake Johnson
- Vice Chair (Kenai/Kodiak/Mat-Su)- Katie Hurley
- Vice Chair (Interior)- Diane Fleeks
- Vice Chair (Interior)- Don Gray
- Vice Chair (Southeast)- Willie Anderson
- Vice Chair (Southeast)- Kathleen Menke
- Vice Chair (Rural)- Chuck Degnan
- Vice Chair (Rural)- Mary Weiss
- At Large - Dave Watts
- Senate Democratic Campaign Committee (SDCC) Co-Chair - Johnny Ellis
- House Democratic Campaign Committee (HDCC) Co-Chairs - Scott Kawasaki / Chris Tuck
- Young Democrats President - Liz Andres
Party Functions
The Alaska Democratic Party performs many functions, all with the aim of helping Democrats to win elected office within the state.
These functions include:[4]
- The organization and recruitment of citizens to go door to door for the party and promote the party issues and candidates.
- The coordination of state-wide campaigns for the general election every two years.
- Working to get articles into newspapers, letters to the editors written, and callers on talk radio stations.
- Operating the official Alaska Democratic Party website.
- Sending out email announcements to Democrats regarding party activities.
- Operating a state Voter File.
Ideology
Current Issues
See also
References
- ^ "Contact Us." Alaska Democratic Party. Retrieved on May 13, 2010.
- ^ http://alaskademocrats.org/your-party/about-the-party
- ^ http://alaskademocrats.org/your-party/executive-committee
- ^ http://alaskademocrats.org/your-party/about-the-party
External links
Alaska political parties With ballot status Alaskan Independence • Democratic • Libertarian • Republican
Without ballot status Constitution • Green • VeteransDefunct Categories:- United States political party stubs
- Democratic Party (United States) by state
- Political parties in Alaska
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