What Isn\'t Said on Alaska\'s Republican Party Website?

Alaska State Republican Party Structure

Alaska State Party Structure

The structure of the state Republican Party of Alaska is organized according to three primary levels: A State Executive Committee, a State Central Committee (SCC), and District Committees. Two levels of conferences are organized: A State Conference and District Conferences ("Alaska Republican Party," 2013).

The Alaska Republican Party is governed by the State Central Committee (SCC) ("Alaska Republican Party," 2013). The State Central Committee membership consists of party leaders, district chairs, and members who hold the SCC bonus votes ("Alaska Republican Party," 2013). During the times when the Republican Party convention is not in session, the SCC controls party affairs and creates policy ("Alaska Republican Party," 2013). To become a member of the local party committee, an interested person needs to contact a district chairman of the State Central Committee (SCC) ("Alaska Republican Party," 2013). The Republican Party officers and delegates to the convention are elected by paper ballot, unless two-thirds of the delegates give consent to other processes ("Alaska Republican Party," 2013). The canvass committee of the Party tallies and verifies the vote ("Alaska Republican Party," 2013). The Convention Secretary calls the roll of the delegates by district, and the delegates respond by presenting their ballots to the canvass committee ("Alaska Republican Party," 2013).

Statewide organizations associated with the party include the College Republicans, Republican Women, Anchorage Young Republicans, and Capital City Republicans ("Alaska Republican Party," 2013). It is worthwhile to consider that the Republican Party unabashedly viewed Sarah Palin as a credible candidate for Vice President of the United States ("Personal communication," 2013). Grassroots organizations such as the Republican Liberty Caucus endorse candidates and function to facilitate the coordination, collaboration, and communication of its members ("The Alaska Federation of Republican Women," 2013). A common feature of political grassroots organization is a Political Action Committee (PAC) that contributes to candidates' campaigns that have been endorsed by the grassroots organization ("The Alaska Federation of Republican Women," 2013).

As of 2013, Republicans currently hold majorities in both houses of the state legislature, as well as holding all of the statewide elected offices except one of the two seats Alaska has in the United States Senate ("Alaska Republican Party," 2013). In addition, for over 40 years, Republicans have held Alaska's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives ("Alaska Republican Party," 2013). Notably, Lyndon B. Johnson was the only Democratic presidential candidate to carry Alaska (in 1964) ("Personal communication," 2013). In recent elections, all other Republican presidential nominees won the support of Alaska. Indeed, Alaska has been transformed from its image as the Last Frontier to the state has become the most staunchly Republican state in the nation ("Personal communication," 2013).

The Alaska Republican Party website devotes considerable webpage space to describing the Party's political platform, complete with mission statement, the statement of principles (what Alaskan Republican believe), and seven planks ("Alaska Republican Party," 2013). The planks of the political platform are as follows: I. Jobs and the Economy; II. Natural Resources; III. Education; IV. Health & Family; V. Judiciary, Law, & Crime; VI. Constitutional Rights ("Alaska Republican Party," 2013). The contents of the Party's platform are conservative, neoliberal, pro-capitalist, and free market in leaning and in tone ("The Alaska Federation of Republican Women," 2013).