During Thursday’s Debate for the State hosted by Alaska Public Media, races for U.S. House and Senate took on very different tones.
In the House race, Republican incumbent Don Young held up his years of experience and familiarity with the federal government as some of his strongest assets. But those were exactly what Democrat Steve Lindebeck, a former general manager for Alaska Public Media, went after.
During the chance to ask a question, Lindebeck dug in on Young’s record.
“You’ve been investigated by the FBI, you were reprimanded only two years ago by the House Ethics Committee, you’ve broken federal ethics disclosure rules for a long time now. If you’re re-elected, how could Alaskans possibly believe that the next two years will be any different?” Lindbeck asked.
In his response, Young batted away the question. It was a rare spark in an otherwise cordial debate. Young, Lindebeck, as well as the two other candidates, Libertarian Jim McDermott and independent Bernie Souphanavong, were amiable, even though there were huge differences in their approaches to the Arctic, the economy and immigration.
Even on the divisive topic of transgender bathroom access, a political flashpoints both locally and nationally, Young and the others were largely on the same page.
“I’m not sure the federal government has a role in this, but they’re gonna pursue it, the Supreme Court’ll make that decision,” Young said. “But there’s a lot of other serious problems occurring in this country right today, and remember, everybody uses the same bathroom in your home.”
Just after the House debate, the four candidates running for U.S. Senate had their chance to make a case to Alaskans ahead of election day. And things were much less diplomatic, with candidates talking over one another and frequently going out of their way to take digs at opponents. Incumbent Republican Lisa Murkowski caught criticisms from both sides, on the right by Libertarian Joe Miller, and from the left by independent Margaret Stock.
For example, both challenged Murkowski over her response to the nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court.
“But he has suggested that somehow or another I have supported Merrick Garland,” Murkowski said, referring to comments from Miller. “We haven’t had an opportunity to weigh in on Merrick Garland. So I just wanna make sure that people understand that what I supported was a process that allows –”
“I’m not sure you can have it both ways,” Miller interjected.
“You can absolutely have it both ways,” Murkowski shot back as moderators steered the conversation back on course.
Candidates’ answers ran the ideological gamut, from extremely conservative, to populist progressive platforms, like Democrat Ray Metcalf’s call for a public option in healthcare. The focus throughout was much more national in its scope than the preceding House debate.
State and federal elections are Tuesday, Nov. 8.
