Measure 1’s Salmon Protection Platform Didn’t Resonate With Alaska Voters

Alaska might be famous for its wild salmon, but one of the hotly contested Election Day decisions that would, in theory, help protect the state’s salmon runs, didn’t sway the state’s voters enough to pass it.

Measure 1 was beaten rather soundly in a race that saw its “Stand For Salmon” contingent being outspended by a wide margin by a mostly oil  and mining company-backed “Stand For Alaska” group.  Here’s the Anchorage Daily News with more:

A ballot measure designed to boost protections for salmon and other fish failed by a large margin Tuesday night amid an onslaught of heavy opposition spending by powerful oil and mining interests.

With 98 percent of precincts reporting by 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, Ballot Measure 1 received 145,997 votes against, and 83,479 votes in favor, a 64-to-36 margin.

Both Stand For Alaska and Stand for Salmon issued statements early Wednesday morning, via KTUU TV:

“Today, tens of thousands of Alaskans raised their voices to protect wild salmon and the rivers they call home,” wrote Stand for Salmon spokesperson Emily Tallman. “While Ballot Measure 1 did not garner enough votes to pass, Alaskans across political and geographic boundaries united in support of stronger salmon habitat protections through the ballot initiative.”

“Our diverse, statewide coalition was a major factor in the outcome of this campaign,” wrote Stand for Alaska spokesperson Kati Cappozi. “Never before has such a broad coalition organized around a statewide ballot measure. More than 550 Alaska businesses across the state, Alaska Native corporations, labor unions, trade groups, and tens of thousands of Alaskans were part of the Stand for Alaska effort.”

Here are some other social media reactions:

Today, thousand of Alaskans spoke up for one of our most treasured resources – salmon. The election results did not go our way – Measure 1 did not pass. But we will continue to push for a higher standard of care for our salmon rivers. Thanks for all your support!

— Stand For Salmon (@StandForSalmon) November 7, 2018

https://twitter.com/standforalaska/status/1060040471681032193

Interactive map: A precinct-by-precinct breakdown of how Alaskans voted on Ballot Measure 1, aka Stand for Salmon https://t.co/ysVS2iDHCm pic.twitter.com/MUs2UvAyoC

— Anchorage Daily News (@adndotcom) November 7, 2018

What will you do to ensure our salmon runs are not endangered by the Big Mining, Big Oil and Big Money interests that poured so much money into defeating measure 1 ?

— salty seadude ??Defend Democracy & Environment (@10FathomLine) November 7, 2018

The fight over Alaska Ballot Measure 1 exemplifies a state wrestling with its own identity. https://t.co/1i9fowhpAP

— High Country News (@highcountrynews) November 6, 2018

https://twitter.com/kallygreene/status/1060220834365661184

Until Anchorage breaks free of the oil companies, Alaska will remain red. There’s a very vocal fisherman in my town celebrating the failure of ballot measure 1. Idiot.

— Kelly Mitchell (@kelly_and_birdy) November 7, 2018

And the anti-development ballot measure 1 in Alaska went down to defeat, too. https://t.co/ZpYET5ntmf

— Robert Dillon (@RA_Dillon) November 7, 2018