Critics Raise Concerns over New Alaska Political Boundaries

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough, known as a hotbed of conservatism, gained the most population since the 2010 Census and will keep the same number of seats in the Alaska Legislature under a new map of state political boundaries that some critics say short-changes the area.

It’s not the only criticism of the plan approved by a divided state Redistricting Board, and court challenges are expected, according to APM. The board’s target population for each House district was 18,335.

Republican Representative Christopher Kurka indicated the board could have considered drawing six borough districts under the population target but instead drew population from other areas. Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich, an Anchorage Democrat, said he thought the House map was fair.

Under the redistricting board’s approach, 59 of the Legislature’s 60 seats will be on the ballot next year; the last time that happened was in 2012.