Alaska Democrats prepare for Saturday caucuses

WASILLA — Alaska Democrats get their shot in the presidential nomination spotlight this weekend, with caucuses planned in 42 locations for all 40 of the Alaska State House districts.

The caucus, planned for 10 a.m. Saturday, will allow registered Democrats to caucus for their preferred Democratic presidential candidate, elect delegates to the state convention and choose district officers. Alaska joins Washington and Hawaii in Saturday polling.

In the Mat-Su, house districts 7-12 will meet at Houston High School. An exception is House District 9, which will hold caucuses in Valdez, Mendeltna and Delta Junction and send the results to the Mat-Su gathering.

Alaska Democrats will choose from three candidates: former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, California businessman Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Both Clinton and Sanders opened offices in the state earlier this month, and Clinton took questions from an Anchorage radio station Tuesday morning.

The last Alaska Democratic caucus was in February 2008, a Super Tuesday, where Barack Obama defeated Clinton with 75 percent of the roughly 9,000 votes cast.

“We are expecting a good turnout, so I would encourage everyone to get there by 9:30 a.m.,” said Big Lake resident and state Democratic chair Casey Steinau. “Houston High School is a great location with great parking.”

Voters must be registered Democrats to participate in the party's caucuses in Alaska. Those not registered as Democrats can change their party affiliation online at voterregistration.alaska.gov, or at the door on Saturday.

“We want people to know that they are welcome,” Steinau said. “If they aren’t a registered voter, want to change their registration or have questions, we can help. The volunteers were have are great.”

According to the Alaska Democratic Party, the caucus process works this way: after arriving, participants will have the opportunity to vote for their presidential nominee by forming preference groups, a process known as a “fan out.” The fan out can be as simple as standing in a part of the room designated for a candidate.

“It may look a little chaotic, but that’s the nature of a caucus,” Steinau said. “It is a dynamic process that is much more grass-roots.”

If a nominee is supported by less than 15 percent of voters present, they will be asked to realign. At the state convention May 13-15 in Anchorage, delegates will be assigned in proportion to the votes each candidate received, according to the party.

Alaska Democrats will send 20 delegates to the national convention, with 16 of them committed to candidates based on the outcome of the caucuses. Four are “unpledged” and may vote as they like. The convention is set for July 25 in Philadelphia.

Steinau said like 2008, younger voters are a focus for the campaigns, adding Alaskans who will be 18 years old by June 24 can participate in the caucuses.

“There has been some wonderful involvement by young people,” Steinau said. “We encourage them to come and participate.”

For more information, visit the Alaska Democratic Party’s website at www.alaskademocrats.org or call 258-3050.

In recent Republican delegate news, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s departure from the presidential race earlier this month left Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and New York businessman Donald Trump tied in Alaska’s Republican delegate count, according to the Alaska Republican Party.

While Cruz narrowly beat Trump in the party’s presidential preference poll on Super Tuesday March 1, the reapportionment of Rubio’s delegates to Cruz and Trump gave the two men an equal number of delegates at 14. The Republican state convention is set for April 28-30 in Fairbanks.

Contact reporter Steven Merritt at 352-2269 or steven.merritt@frontiersman.com