From Juneau to the rest of Alaska and to the nation, change is the common denominator in the November election. The recent upheavals in our political system offer an unprecedented opportunity for still more change if our elected officials are bold enough to act.
Change was evident in Juneau’s election where a new face won a legislative House race over a long-serving incumbent. For the state, there is a new bipartisan coalition taking shape in the House of Representatives, bolstered in part by the ousting of several incumbents. And in the nation, a radically different sort of politician has won the White House.
Many people voted the way they did because they are tired of gridlock and politics as usual. The election outcome shows that as a community, a state, and a country, we need a new way of talking about and acting on the issues that divide us as well as those that we agree upon. Unfortunately, the contentious presidential campaign and recent administration appointments and twitter statements by the President-elect have only deepened fractures in American society.
These tremors rattling U.S. politics offer up opportunities that could unite rather than divide. Alaska’s own U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, for example, is uniquely situated to bring about a reformation of government like we’ve never seen. As a moderate Republican securely elected to a six-year term, Murkowski could lead the way to the change so many crave. She could make a bid for Majority Leader and form a bipartisan coalition with Senate Democrats and other moderate Republican senators. A bipartisan coalition would set an example for constructive debate and action on the nation’s problems, and lead the way toward healing our fractured communities. Moreover, it would show the rest of the world how our system of checks and balances can work as intended.
Most Alaskans will understand and appreciate the senator working across party lines to further the nation’s interests. While Alaska is a “red” state, we have transcended party lines in the past for the good of Alaskans, including Sen. Murkowski herself; she was part of a bipartisan fiscal caucus when she was a state legislator. Having an Alaskan as the powerful Senate Majority Leader would open the door to resolving many of our long-standing issues that have languished in a divided Congress.
Though it would be challenging to put together a coalition majority in the U.S. Senate, it is doable; just four Republican senators need to step up to tip the balance. Throughout the presidential campaign, there were Republican senators who spoke out against their party’s candidate and who demonstrated a commitment to decency and moderation. In addition to Sen. Murkowski, these include Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan and Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), John McCain (R-Arizona) and Jeff Flake (R-Arizona). They have the opportunity now to continue taking a responsible stand and cross the aisle in support of bipartisanship. Others would certainly follow.
For revolutionary change, and for the good of Alaska and the nation, we urge Sen. Murkowski to blaze a new trail, to be the first woman majority leader and the first person to lead a bipartisan coalition in the U.S. Senate. As Sen. Murkowski said in a 2013 opinion piece, “The public is crying out for us to work in a bipartisan manner …” This is a unique opportunity for restructuring our political system in the best interests of the country and our children’s future.
• Empire Readers’ Council members are Joe Geldhof, Abby Lowell, Tom Rutecki, Lisa Weissler and Alex Wertheimer.
