Donald Trump has won the presidency in the United States and in Alaska. In Bethel, Hillary Clinton took the majority of support along with Republican Lisa Murkowski for U.S. Senate, Democrat Steve Lindbeck for U.S. House, and the unchallenged Democrat Zach Fansler for Alaska House District 38 Representative.
Alaska also voted to reelect Murkowski, but unlike Bethel, voted to keep Republican Don Young in the U.S. House. Bethel voted with the rest of the state to pass Ballot Measure 1, which will register eligible residents to vote when signing up for the permanent fund dividend. Bethel also supported passing Ballot Measure 2, which would allow the state to borrow money to pay for student loans and lower interest rates on student debt, but the ballot was defeated by 56 percent opposition statewide.
In the courts, Bethel voted to retain all judges on its ballot.
The election season has been long, dramatic, and for many, exhausting. At the polls Tuesday, many Bethel voters were glad Election Day had finally arrived.
Transcript:
KYUK: How do you feel, having just voted?
Person 1: I was thinking, what a relief that’s over.
Person 2: Sad about the presidential.
Person 3: I feel great!
Person 4: I’m glad this day has come and it’s almost over.
Person 5: I feel wonderful because it’s my prerogative as a citizen.
Person 6: Just tired of the ads.
Person 7: Too many campaign on TV.
KYUK: That last part is what most people said. They were tired of turning on the TV, the radio, and Facebook to see a constant stream of propaganda, campaigning, and what they viewed as disheartening negativity. Susan Charles was one of those voters.
Charles: I think we’ve been bombarded with all kinds of negative ads and media, and I think it’s time we put those aside and pick the people who we think are going to make a positive difference for us.
KYUK: Now, Bethel has done that and the rest of the nation has, too. But what comes next? How do we move on as a country after such a divisive election? Bethel voters—Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians alike —all say, or at least hope, that Bethel will carry through this transition peacefully, united, as a community.
Person 8: I think it’ll remain as it is now.
Person 9: I don’t think it’s going to change much at all, honestly.
Person 10: It might take time, you know. Time will tell.
Person 11: I think culturally as a native people, we accept change and adapt to it. And we’re a very tolerant people and very resilient.
Person 12: We will move forward. Everyone’s going to move forward.
Person 13: We’re a close-knit community, and we rely on each other. We’re friends and neighbors and family. We’re all related here.
Person 14: It’ll be interesting though to see what happens.