conv.

All stories
PoliticsQuiet 8d · day 10

GOP threatens to block Peltola from Senate seat if elected in Alaska

Republicans signal intent to delay or refuse to seat Democrat Mary Peltola, with stakes depending on the size of the Democratic majority and whether Gov. Dunleavy certifies her win.

newest coverage 8d agosummary written 8d ago3 pieces NewswiresMastodon

What to know

  • Senate Republicans are threatening to refuse to seat Democrat Mary Peltola if she wins her Alaska Senate race, citing the Senate's authority as a continuous body to determine who gets seated.
  • The outcome hinges on the size of the Democratic Senate majority: a 53-seat majority makes Peltola unnecessary; a 51-seat majority with Peltola as the 51st seat creates higher stakes for blocking her.
  • Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy's threatened refusal to certify Peltola's election could provide a procedural barrier, but Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins is heavily favored to win the governorship Tuesday, transferring certification authority to a Democrat.
  • Republicans may attempt a prolonged legal challenge similar to the 2009 Al Franken case, aiming to delay Democrats obtaining a critical Senate vote rather than ultimately prevent seating.

“If you have a 53-seat majority, Democrats will become the majority without Peltola. Once they're in the majority it will be up to them who gets seated, though the GOP could then filibuster. If it's a 51-seat majority with Peltola as the 51st, that's a different story.”

Josh Marshall, Political analyst, Talking Points Memo · Talking Points Memo ↗

Mary PeltolaMary Peltola Alaska Democratic Senate candidateSenate Republicans (pro-fascist wing) Majority party with power to refuse seatingMike Dunleavy Alaska Republican GovernorJonathan Kreiss-TomkinsJonathan Kreiss-Tomkins Alaska Democratic gubernatorial candidateJosh MarshallJosh Marshall Political analyst and TPM editor

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 2 pieces in 3h at Nov 3, 9 AM; 3 pieces over 10 days (2 articles · 1 post) Nov 2, 9 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Nov 2, 12 PM — quietNov 2, 3 PM — quietNov 2, 6 PM — quietNov 2, 9 PM — quietNov 3, 12 AM — quietNov 3, 3 AM — quietNov 3, 6 AM — quietNov 3, 9 AM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Nov 3, 12 PM — quietNov 3, 3 PM — quietNov 3, 6 PM — quietNov 3, 9 PM — quietNov 4, 12 AM — quietNov 4, 3 AM — quietNov 4, 6 AM — quietNov 4, 9 AM — quietNov 4, 12 PM — quietNov 4, 3 PM — quietNov 4, 6 PM — quietNov 4, 9 PM — quietNov 5, 12 AM — quietNov 5, 3 AM — quietNov 5, 6 AM — quietNov 5, 9 AM — quietNov 5, 12 PM — quietNov 5, 3 PM — quietNov 5, 6 PM — quietNov 5, 9 PM — quietNov 6, 12 AM — quietNov 6, 3 AM — quietNov 6, 6 AM — quietNov 6, 9 AM — quietNov 6, 12 PM — quietNov 6, 3 PM — quietNov 6, 6 PM — quietNov 6, 9 PM — quietNov 7, 12 AM — quietNov 7, 3 AM — quietNov 7, 6 AM — quietNov 7, 9 AM — quietNov 7, 12 PM — quietNov 7, 3 PM — quietNov 7, 6 PM — quietNov 7, 9 PM — quietNov 8, 12 AM — quietNov 8, 3 AM — quietNov 8, 6 AM — quietNov 8, 9 AM — quietNov 8, 12 PM — quietNov 8, 3 PM — quietNov 8, 6 PM — quietNov 8, 9 PM — quietNov 9, 12 AM — quietNov 9, 3 AM — quietNov 9, 6 AM — quietNov 9, 9 AM — quietNov 9, 12 PM — quietNov 9, 3 PM — quietNov 9, 6 PM — quietNov 9, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quietToday, 9 AM — quietToday, 12 PM — quietToday, 3 PM — quietToday, 6 PM — quietToday, 9 PM — quiet ◂ 1 earlier2
Nov 3Nov 4Nov 5Nov 6Nov 7Nov 8Nov 9yesterdaynow · 10:46 PM ET
  1. 2

    Dunleavy's certification decision emerges as potential blocker

    Marshall notes that Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has hinted he might refuse to certify Peltola's election, which would prevent Democrats from easily seating her. However, Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins is heavily favored to win the governorship on Tuesday, after which certification authority shifts to him.

    “Alaska's Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy has hinted he might refuse to certify Peltola's election. If she's not certified by the state, Republicans don't really have to do anything.”
    — Josh Marshall
  2. 1

    Marshall analyzes mechanics of potential GOP challenge to Peltola seating

    Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo explains how Senate Republicans could refuse to seat Peltola if elected, detailing the constitutional authority and procedural differences between House and Senate seating disputes.

    “With the pro-fascist wing of Senate Republicans threatening not to seat Mary Peltola if she's elected to the Senate, I wanted to give you a short primer of how all this works.”
    — Josh Marshall, Political analyst, Talking Points Memo · source