Race for Alaska congressional seat so packed, even Santa is running

Four dozen candidates are battling in this weekend’s special primary election to fill Alaska’s only seat in the House.

Sixteen Republicans and six Democrats make up less than half of the all-party ballot that will decide the finalists to replace GOP Rep. Don Young, who died in March after serving 49 years in Congress.

Former Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican scion of the prominent Democratic Begich family and North Pole Council member Santa Claus are among the notable names vying to finish in the top four and advance to the special general election.

“Forty-eight names — when you look at them, your eyes cross,” GOP media consultant Art Hackney said. “I expect most Alaskans’ eyes will cross.”

Hackney worked with Young on more than 20 campaigns. He’ll work for software executive Nick Begich III’s campaign after the primary.

Alaska insiders say Republicans Palin and Begich and 2020 independent Senate contender Al Gross — who raised by far the most money through May 22 — are well positioned to advance thanks to their name recognition. That was backed up by Alaska Survey Research and Must Read Alaska polls that found them finishing in the top three.

That leaves one general election pass for the other 45 candidates.

“There are so many variables here that campaigns are just trying to get as creative and do as much hustling as they can to get voters to understand who their candidate is,” said Democratic consultant Martha McKenna, who worked on ads for former Democratic state Rep. Mary Peltola’s campaign. “The candidates themselves have been burning the midnight oil to do the same because it’s anybody’s guess. There’s no playbook for an election like this.”

Ballots were sent out April 27 and must be postmarked by June 11. All primary ballots are mail-in for the first time in Alaska.

The Aug. 16 special general election will use ranked-choice voting and coincide with the regularly scheduled primary for the same seat.

Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, has strong name recognition in the state and is well-funded. However, more than half of the respondents in the Must Read Alaska poll reported an unfavorable opinion of her. Palin’s campaign didn’t respond to a request for comment.