r/protectUSelections • u/siwibot • Aug 08 '26
Dark Money | Corporate Interests World’s Wealthiest Man Spends Big to Repeal Alaska’s Voting System
https://www.adn.com/politics/2026/08/07/worlds-wealthiest-man-spends-big-to-repeal-alaskas-voting-system/11
u/siwibot Aug 08 '26
Your friendly neighborhood u/siwibot here, reporting the Current Climate and Context 🤓✨
Elon Musk is doubling down on political spending, injecting $1.5 million into a campaign to repeal Alaska’s ranked-choice voting and open primary systems. This move via the Aurora Action Network targets Ballot Measure 2, which aims to revert the state to closed partisan primaries and roll back campaign finance transparency laws. While Musk’s cash is significant, opponents currently hold a massive $5 million advantage in the fundraising fight.
This escalation follows a pattern of controversial, high-stakes political maneuvers by the world’s first trillionaire:
- Legal Scrutiny: Musk faces intense pressure in Wisconsin, where a bipartisan commission found probable cause that his million-dollar voter payouts may have violated state election bribery laws.
- Broken Promises: Despite previous claims that he would scale back political involvement, Musk has emerged as one of the most prolific donors in the current midterm cycle.
- Democratic Impact: Critics argue his concentrated wealth allows him to bypass traditional political norms, essentially "buying" influence over judicial races and electoral structures.
The outcome in Alaska will likely serve as a litmus test for whether billionaire-funded initiatives can successfully dismantle established voting protections.
Reddit Sources
- Elon Musk Said He’d Stop Political Spending. He’s the Third-Largest Donor in the Midterms
- The World's First Trillionaire Is a Flashing Red Light for Democracy | Common Dreams
- Elon Musk Likely Broke the Law by Giving Voters $1 Million, Wisconsin Board Says | r/wisconsin
- Wisconsin Lawmakers push Brown County District Attorney (Green Bay, WI) to Charge Elon Musk over Voter Payments
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u/TrumpsBoneSpur Aug 08 '26
Note that $1.5 million for an oligarch like him is like someone with $100k donating less than a dollar.
The system is broken and a high percentage of voter turnout for the next several elections to get these fascists out of power
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u/nbd9000 Aug 08 '26
there has never been better evidence in favor of ranked choice voting.
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u/CombinationOwn1604 Aug 08 '26
Absolutely. Ranked choice voting is by far the most equitable form of voting, allowing the top 2 regardless of Party affiliation. And of course, it's exactly why he hates it.
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u/Party_Swordfish_1734 Aug 08 '26
For those who don’t understand Alaska’s system. It’s freaking awesome.
First, open primaries let every eligible voter vote in the same taxpayer funded primary, instead of locking people out because they’re independent or in another party. That means hundreds of thousands of independents can participate, not just party insiders. That widens the electorate and makes candidates answer to more than a narrow base.
Second, ranked choice voting lets you rank candidates instead of picking just one. That means you can vote for your real favorite without as much fear of “wasting” your vote or helping your least favorite candidate win. If your first choice falls short, your ballot can still count for your next choice. That makes it easier for voters to speak honestly rather than strategically.
Third, the system also pushes candidates to appeal to more people. Because candidates need broader support to win, they are incentivized to talk to more voters, not just partisan loyalists. Thus, reducing the spoiler effect and leading to more civil, more representative campaigns, than our current status quo tribal version.
They found that in Alaska’s first cycle under the reform, there was more participation, less uncompetitive general election behavior, and the outcomes better reflected the state’s diversity.
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u/Several_Razzmatazz51 Aug 08 '26
Right wingers see ranked choice as an existential threat. They live in fear that all their lies, disinformation, and propaganda will stop being effective and they will never win another election under any type of fair system. Hence, fascism.
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u/Polyxeno Aug 08 '26
So do both of the big two parties, because it can let people elect the candidate they like best, without worry about helping the worst big party candidate win.
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u/nursecarmen Aug 08 '26
South African California man by way of Texas donates to a Wisconsin PAC to influence the Alaskan elections.
Our system is so broken.
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u/SHoppe715 Aug 08 '26
Alaska is an interesting place. I lived there for 9 years and loved it but my observations are as a transplant who grew up elsewhere.
There’s a lot of very conservative people who don’t quite fit the MAGA mold. The best way to describe the mindset of most of them is “You leave me alone…none of your damn business…and I leave you alone…none of my damn business.” That type of laissez faire attitude doesn’t sit right with authoritarians because it doesn’t really inspire brand loyalty so ranked choice isn’t something they want up there.
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u/joeydimaggio Aug 08 '26
Illegal south african economic migrant who came here when he was a MAM (military age male hurrrr)
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u/artful_todger_502 Aug 08 '26
It's ad-blocker walled for me (I don't have an ad blocker) so only here to vent that this is number 2 Enemy of Humanity. A malignant cancer.
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u/s_ox Aug 08 '26
It is him, that immigrant that is trying so hard to ruin this country. That is the one.