Things have been shifting here in Alaska. It started with Joe Miller's defeat to write in candidate Lisa Murkowski- both Republicans, but one is a Tea Party darling and supported by Sarah Palin, the other is an Establishment Republican who lost her primary and still won the election.
It gives me hope for the future.
I haven't been a registered Democrat in decades. I'm registered no affiliation, and on the local level have voted for some old school Republicans who I trusted. On the national level, my vote has been Green for a lot of elections. Generally I vote in the Republican primaries to have some level of control in who gets the nomination for the senate, house and gubernatorial offices.
My heart is still Green. But in 2016? I'm voting Blue. I'm voting in the primaries, then in the general. While I care passionately about who gets the nomination and I know who I'm supporting- in the general, I'll vote for whoever gets the national nod.
See, voting Green was the most meaningful vote that I thought I could make for years. I live in a state that considered very Red but it's getting more Purple than people realize. We came closer in the last Presidential election to purple than we've been in more years than I've been alive. 40% of voting Alaskans supported President Obama. In our last race for Governor- we set history for our state when a conservative independent candidate teamed up with the Democrat candidate with the express purpose of removing Gov. Palin's successor Parnell from office. Governor Walker made some concessions to Democrats for their support. I'd also like to point out we are the first whole state to drop "Columbus Day" for "Indigenous People Day"
On a local level, in the biggest city in Alaska, we had 4 strong candidates for Mayor. 3 were conservatives, 1 Establishment, 1 right wing, and 1 batsh... Tea Party. In the initial election, conservative candidates got most of the votes but none of them had enough to win so it went to a run off between the two top candidates- the Democrat and the Tea Parrot. People just knew that the Tea Parrot would win because look at the first results! It was clear that conservative wins! Except she didn't. It wasn't even close.
So there it is- my scrap of hope that maybe Alaska isn't a completely Red anymore. You can't tell it from the comments on the local news programs Facebook feeds, but it is showing in the polls. Our state has always had a high number of registered no party affiliation voters here. They may be quieter, but they are voting.
So why am I absolutely voting blue next year?
Because I have 2 adult children who deserve the chance to go to college without fear of crippling debt.
Because 1 of those children is a young woman and I believe her health choices should be between her and her doctor.
Because of the Supreme Court- if there is an appointment made to the Supreme Court, it will be a part of their lives for decades to come. I want justices who care more about people than corporations.
Because I want them to have the best world that I can make for them.
They are voting too, and know they are voting for their future. Maybe we can turn this red state blue.