Kodiak Dems Head to State Democratic Convention in Anchorage

Kayla Desroches/KMXT

Kodiak democrats voted for Bernie Sanders as their preferred presidential candidate in March’s Democratic Caucus, and now District 32 delegates are heading to Anchorage to represent the voters’ choice at the Alaska Democratic Convention.

One of the delegates, Chris Sharpe, who recently moved to Wasilla, expressed enthusiasm about being involved in the process. He says both Republicans’ and Democrats’ mixed feelings about their candidates make this election a unique environment.

“It’s very exciting to be a part of that, and it’s exciting to hear Mr. Sanders’ speak. It’s very hopeful. He brings a lot of things to the table, he’s a plain-speaking person, he’s very forthcoming, he’s not trying to hide things and I think that’s refreshing. So, very exciting, very exciting to me.”

Sharpe says the convention begins Friday, runs three days, and will involve talks, fundraising, and mingling.

“I think there’s gonna be a lot of glad-handing, I think there’s gonna be a lot of just celebrating how the votes have been cast, maybe a lot of networking too. And you gotta remember it’s a democratic political affair. The Democratic Party is very well organized, so the Democrats are gonna want to do everything they can to be aligned behind one candidate, and their favorite candidate right now is Hillary.”

Despite many Democrats’ belief that Hillary Clinton would have a stronger chance of winning against Donald Trump, Sharpe thinks Sanders could still get the Democratic nomination and provide some stiff competition.

“That’s like Bernie Sanders himself says. The path is narrow, but the path is there. And nature has a funny way of taking the most unlikely of things and making them thrive. What’s in the air between Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump, the only way they’re really alike is that people seem to be fed up with establishment politics and establishment rhetoric.”

The Alaska Democratic Convention will take place on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus and result in 20 delegates and two alternates who will travel to the National Convention in Philadelphia in July.