Progressive drops out of West Anchorage state House race, leaving Democrat uncontested

Nick Moe, an independent progressive campaigner for Alaska House District 16, is seen successful an undated photograph published by nan Alaska Division of Elections. (Screenshot)

Nick Moe, a nonpartisan progressive moving for House District 16 successful West Anchorage, is ending his campaign, he announced Monday.

“There’s a way to winning, but it’s narrow,” he said aft preliminary superior predetermination results showed him importantly trailing Democratic campaigner Carolyn Hall. 

“I mean, we’re gonna astir apt raise different 70 expansive successful this title fighting against each other. So I deliberation trying to usage those resources and power and clip to elite different bully group is simply a smart decision,” he said.

Moe’s determination leaves Hall unopposed for nan seat, and some candidates said that nan determination will time off much money and unpaid clip disposable for competitory races elsewhere.

“There’s a constricted beingness of group who unpaid connected races, and there’s a constricted beingness of donations. So anytime you’re putting money toward a title that really isn’t going to alteration nan constitution of nan Legislature, it impacts each those different races,” said Amber Lee, a advisor who has been advising Hall.

“It’ll nonstop those volunteers that we’re going to unpaid for Carolyn to nan races that do make a difference, and donors tin attraction their money connected those races,” she said.

Hall thanked Moe for his decision. 

“I deliberation what he did was really admirable, and I’m really grateful that he was looking astatine nan large image and recognizing that location are a batch person races that merit attention, and that includes his attention,” Hall said.

Moe said he intends to unpaid for different Democratic candidates successful Anchorage, and he hopes his supporters will, too.

For her part, Hall said she has galore goals earlier joining nan caller Alaska Legislature successful January.

“I’m reasoning that I still person a batch of activity to do erstwhile it comes to getting retired nan ballot and making judge that we’re turning up nan elector turnout for November,” Hall said. 

“I judge it matters for races up nan ballot, making judge that Mary Peltola is getting nan support that she needs … I deliberation that’s really important to make judge that she’s getting reelected,” she said.

As of Monday, Moe had 37.7% of nan ballot successful his superior predetermination title against Hall and was about 850 votes down her, retired of much than 3,400 cast. 

The spot is presently held by Rep. Jennie Armstrong, D-Anchorage, but Armstrong declined to tally for re-election. 

In 2022, Armstrong defeated erstwhile Republican legislator Liz Vazquez by astir 800 votes out of almost 7,700 cast. This year, Vazquez is challenging Sen. Matt Claman, D-Anchorage, and location is nary Republican successful nan House race.

Of nan 40 seats successful nan Alaska House, 3 Democrats, 1 independent and 5 Republicans had been moving unopposed for re-election. Moe’s determination intends 10 of nan 40 seats now person nary challenger.

The deadline for write-in candidates to use is Oct. 31.