Missed return for Sarah Palin. The former candidate for the vice-presidency of the United States, in 2008, and star of the populist right, before the emergence of Donald Trump, was seeking a seat in Congress. But, despite the support of the businessman from Queens exiled in Florida, she was overtaken by an indigenous Democratic candidate.
A failure for Sarah Palin, a success for diversity
At 58, Sarah Palin hoped to return to politics, nearly fifteen years after a candidacy that had made an impression. Then governor of Alaska and unknown outside her state, Sarah Palin was chosen, to everyone’s surprise, by John McCain, opponent of Barack Obama, as vice-president.
If she had not been able to prevent the defeat of her camp, Sarah Palin had attracted crowds during the campaign, defending populist ideas which announced those of Donald Trump. Once beaten, she had become the star of the Tea Party movement which had made life difficult for the young Democratic president.
After working for a time for Fox News, Sarah Palin had given up public life. On the death in March of the only deputy from Alaska, a Republican who had sat for 49 years in Washington, she announced her return. But it is the Democrat Mary Peltola who will complete the term of the deceased. She will be the first Alaska Native to serve in Congress in the country’s history. At least until November 8, the date of the legislative elections in the United States. She will then be a candidate for a new two-year term, just like Sarah Palin.
New voting method
If the result was known on Wednesday August 31, that is to say two weeks after the date of the vote, the 15th, it is because of the new voting method, adopted in 2020 by referendum in Alaska. Voters are now asked to choose not one candidate, but several, listed in order of preference.
If a candidate obtains the absolute majority of the first choices, nothing changes, he is elected. Otherwise, the contender with the fewest votes is eliminated, and the second choices of his voters are added to the votes of the candidates in question. And so on until a pretender crosses the threshold of absolute majority.
This voting method is in vogue in the United States at the local level. Its promoters believe that it encourages participation, because all ballots, or almost, count. This mechanism would also promote a more peaceful debate, the candidates moderating their attacks so as not to put off the voters of the other candidates, and run for their second choices.
The study of ballots in Alaska shows that nearly a third of voters for Nick Begich, another third-place Republican, put Democrat Mary Peltola second, not Sarah Palin, which secured her victory.
A renewed hope for the Democrats
This result, in a republican state – because it is linked to oil exploitation – was surprising. The region is unique, as is the voting system, which makes it impossible to draw national conclusions. Still, this seat snatched from the Republican Party restores balm to the hearts of the Democrats, two months of legislative elections which promise to be complicated for Joe Biden’s party.
A few months ago, no one in Washington was considering anything other than a large Republican victory. But the optimism on the right is more measured today. In addition to the defeat of Sarah Palin, there was the surprise victory of the pro-abortion camp in the Kansas referendum in early August, but also a victory in a riding in rural upstate New York.
Is it the mobilization of Democrats, worried about the evolution of American society after the Supreme Court’s decision on abortion? Is it the fear of Donald Trump’s stranglehold on the Republican Party? The campaign for midterms promises to be more interesting than ever.
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