AHC: Democratic Alaska, Republican Hawaii

glenn67

It has been 54 years since Alaska and Hawaii were admitted as states in the USA. Regarding Hawaii, there was some opposition to making it a state (Southern Democrats were not thrilled with giving statehood to a territory in which whites were a minority). Some politicians thought that Hawaii would be a Republican state and Alaska overwhelmingly Democratic.

Of Hawaii's 7 governors, only two were Republicans. Hiram Fong is the only Republican to date that was elected US Senator from Hawaii. Patricia Saiki and Charles Djou are the only Republicans elected to the US House of Representatives. The GOP won Hawaii's electoral votes in 1972 and 1984.

In 2008, Mark Begich became the first Democrat since Mike Gravel to be elected US Senator from Alaska. His father, Nick Begich, was the last Democrat to represent Alaska's at-large Congressional District. The Democrats did control that state's governorship for 16 out of 20 years (1982-1990, 1994-2002). Nevertheless, Republicans control the state legislature and Alaska is a consistent GOP state on the Presidential level (1964 was only year that Democrats won that state's electoral votes).

How can Hawaii be an overwhelmingly Republican state and Alaska an overwhelmingly Democratic state? The Republicans must still be the conservative (right-wing) party and Democrats the liberal (left-wing) party.
 
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Nofix

Considering Alaska is sparsely populated and largely "rural" while Hawaii is small, urban, and majority minority, this is difficult but not impossible. Maybe have the Dem's be more Libertarian regarding Guns and Drugs, and less interested in spending on the military. The Republicans continue their streak of supporting military spending on Hawaii, which could have use as a military base against a hostile Asian power (North Korea, China?).

Other than that it's hard to say how you can switch the two.
 

Mr.6

Banned
glenn67 said:
It has been 44 years since Alaska and Hawaii were admitted as states in the USA. Regarding Hawaii, there was some opposition to making it a state (Southern Democrats were not thrilled with giving statehood to a territory in which whites were a minority). Some politicians thought that Hawaii would be a Republican state and Alaska overwhelmingly Democratic.

Of Hawaii's 7 governors, only two were Republicans. Hiram Fong is the only Republican to date that was elected US Senator from Hawaii. Patricia Saiki and Charles Djou are the only Republicans elected to the US House of Representatives. The GOP won Hawaii's electoral votes in 1972 and 1984.

In 2008, Mark Begich became the first Democrat since Mike Gravel to be elected US Senator from Alaska. His father, Nick Begich, was the last Democrat to represent Alaska's at-large Congressional District. The Democrats did control that state's governorship for 20 straight years (1982-2002). Nevertheless, Republicans control the state legislature and Alaska is a consistent GOP state on the Presidential level (1964 was only year that Democrats won that state's electoral votes).

How can Hawaii be an overwhelmingly Republican state and Alaska an overwhelmingly Democratic state? The Republicans must still be the conservative (right-wing) party and Democrats the liberal (left-wing) party.
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Wow this might be the hardest thing ever, ok let me think, have T.R. visit Alaska and create nature preserves.
 

Paul V McNutt

Banned
I am thinking migration patterns. hHave a big mass of conservative white retires move to Hawaii. I have not yet decided who moves to Alaska.
 
Plumber

Plumber

Easy. No Southern Strategy. Nixon wins in 1960.

People forget how narrow the margin in the two was in 1960, how close Alaska was in 1968, and how close Hawaii was in 1976 and 1980.
 
Fenrir_Angerboda

Fenrir_Angerboda

Hmm.

Hawaii is difficult.

The Reform Party, which had taken control of the state after the overthrow of the kingdom was largely associated with the Republican party, as the republicans supported annexation.

Between that, and their promotion of white supremacy, many people turned away from the Republicans, supporting either the Democrats or Home Rule Party, which was formed after Native Hawaiians felt neither party would be able to properly represent them.

The Big Five were affiliated with the Republicans, so the Democrats went after the cane field workers.

By the 1950s, the Democrats were largely associated with the Native Hawaiians, while the Japanese were largely ignored by both parties.

Prevent the 1954 Democratic Revolution, which brought the Japanese into the Democratic fold, and you'll probably keep the Republicans dominate longer.

Then it comes down to which party goes after the Japanese first.
Personally though, I think the Republicans might have some trouble getting their votes, due to the situation between the White plantation owners and the poorer Japanese.
 

muskeg13

glenn67 said:
The Democrats did control that state's governorship for 20 straight years (1982-2002).
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Wally Hickel 1990-94 was not a Democrat. He and Jack Coghill, the Lt. Gov candidate, were a life-long Republicans who switched to the Alaska Independence Party ticket a few weeks prior to the 1990 election in response to fears that the Republican candidate (Sturgulewski) was too liberal. Hickel and Coghill won.
 

glenn67

muskeg13 said:
Wally Hickel 1990-94 was not a Democrat. He and Jack Coghill, the Lt. Gov candidate, were a life-long Republicans who switched to the Alaska Independence Party ticket a few weeks prior to the 1990 election in response to fears that the Republican candidate (Sturgulewski) was too liberal. Hickel and Coghill won.
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Oops. Right again.
 
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