By SUZANNE DOWNING
May 2, 2026 – There’s a new word being weaponized by certain Alaska Republican moderates in Juneau: Divisive. And like most overused political labels, it now means almost nothing.
If you listen to the Republicans who are preparing to override Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of the latest election bill, you’ll hear a familiar refrain: Anyone who opposes them is being “divisive.” That’s convenient but also backwards.
Because by that definition, most Republicans in Alaska, both elected and grassroots, are now “divisive.” Supporting a Republican governor? Divisive. Questioning a Democrat-led election overhaul? Divisive. Expecting lawmakers to align with the party platform? Divisive.
It’s an upside-down political world in Juneau these days.
We’ve seen this tactic before. In 2022, when conservative Republican Kelly Tshibaka challenged incumbent Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the same accusation was thrown around. Tshibaka was labeled “divisive” for daring to challenge a sitting Republican.
But what was actually happening?
Murkowski had long since distanced herself from the Republican base, abandoned party priorities, and openly opposed the party’s president.. The divide didn’t begin with the challenger but was the result of years of betrayal by the incumbent.
And now, history is repeating itself: A small bloc of Republican legislators is preparing to join Democrats in an attempt to override Dunleavy’s veto of what many conservatives view as an election overhaul that expands bureaucracy, weakens safeguards, and moves Alaska further away from voter confidence.
Instead of defending their position on its merits, some are reverting to a familiar tactic: Attack the critics.
Those who oppose the override are being labeled “Democrats.” Loyal Republicans are being recast as outsiders. The message is clear — fall in line, or be smeared.
What’s especially notable is how closely some of these Republican lawmakers are now echoing the talking points of outside influencers and political operatives — including those tied to groups like Alaskans for Better Elections, such as lobbyist Jerry Mackie, who has been aligned with Murkowski-world politics for years. Murkowski made a point of praising the election bill, Senate Bill 64, the miscarriage of legislation by Democrat Sen. Bill Wielechowski and Rep. Sarah Vance.
The rhetoric is nearly identical: Critics are misinformed. Concerns are exaggerated. Opposition is partisan.
But voters are paying attention.
They understand the difference between disagreement and disloyalty. They know the difference between standing on principle and shifting with political winds.
And they tend to remember moments like this, when lines are clearly drawn.
The override vote expected Monday will be one of those moments.
Five or six Republicans may decide to side against a Republican governor and alongside Democrats to push through a bill that has sharply divided their own party. That is their prerogative.
But they don’t get to redefine what betrayal is. They don’t get to vaccinate themselves against their vote by calling defenders of the governor a “Democrat.” And they don’t get to have lobbyist and bullyJerry Mackie write their op-eds without getting called out for it as being beneath them as sitting senators. If either of them thinks that higher office is in their future, they’re in for a surprise.
Disagreement within the conservative ranks is what we actually honor. Holding elected officials accountable and standing with your party’s principles and its elected governor is not something that needs to be apologized for. It’s something I hope all conservative Alaskans have the courage to do.
If anything, the real test of unity isn’t whether everyone agrees, but whether those in power can tolerate disagreement without trying to muzzle the base.
Sadly, that test is being failed in Juneau right now.
Suzanne Downing is founder and editor of The Alaska Story, and is a longtime Alaskan.
Suzanne Downing: Five fatal flaws in Senate Bill 64 and why Alaskans demand a veto
Alex Gimarc: The perpetual voter registration loop created by Senate Bill 64
Randy Ruedrich: Senate Bill 64 fails voter privacy test
David Eastman: Why do some Republican legislators get personally invested in passing Democrat election bills like SB64?
One thought on “Two legislators weaponize the word ‘divisive’ by labeling conservatives as ‘Democrats’”
Say their names, Suzanne: It’s Mike Cronk and Rob Yundt, two Republicans from Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s home turf who are screwing the governor and …. no, we will not forget that.