Updated: 1 hour ago Published: 1 hour ago
Born and raised in Nome, Löki Tobin has spent her career advocating for equity, community-led development and helping those in need. Nonetheless, Löki has battled imposter syndrome her whole life. She recognizes she may not have the intrinsic experiences or knowledge of those whose roots are deeply embedded in Alaska. Löki worries she’s not making space, but instead taking up space that she’s not qualified or worthy to hold. The first time Löki was asked if she would consider a career in politics, she immediately pushed back with, “Me? I’m not the right candidate.” It took her years and working through her self-doubt to realize that she is the right candidate.
At Bettye Davis East High School, Genevieve Mina enjoyed competitive debate and volunteering for clubs but had never thought about public service. In her first year at the University of Alaska Anchorage, a friend pulled her into making phone calls for a local campaign, sparking her love for Alaska politics. While juggling extracurriculars, campaigns and entering the workforce, she has still not finished her undergraduate degree. Genevieve’s perspective as a young Alaskan and daughter of immigrants shaped her leadership and passion for Alaska’s future. She knew that her years of building community relationships, working with elected officials and passing bipartisan legislation made her just as qualified to run as anyone else.
Around the time Jennie Armstrong was asked to run for office, she was actively participating in Facebook groups for local moms who were struggling like she was to find formula and child care. She was reading about what a post-Roe world would look like and how that would have a devastating impact on families. She spent time visiting the home of newly arrived refugees who were expecting a child within a week and had nothing. As a mom and lifelong activist, she knew that very few elected officials in Alaska have very young or school-aged children. She is running to make sure that families have a voice at the table where decisions are being made about them.
Andrew Gray grew up in a household openly hostile toward politics. His father believed the government was out to get him, his family, his guns and their money. This steered Andrew away from all things political but he still wanted to serve, so he joined the military and later Campbell Park Community Council. It was there that he met local representatives and realized they were everyday people like him. Andrew is a parent, a veteran and a community activist, but has neither political roots nor a degree in political science. What started in his neighborhood has turned into a candidacy for the State House.
We’re telling you these stories because we believe there are multiple pathways that bring people to politics, but we often only see one: someone who went to the right schools, had the right connections and got the right jobs. As our state continues to struggle with the same challenges and issues since statehood, it’s clear that new voices and ideas are needed in Juneau.
The good news is that there is hope on the horizon. With 59 of the 60 legislative seats currently open, there is great potential for new voices to enter the political dialogue.
As candidates for the State House and Senate, we are thrilled that there are so many first-time candidates. We know that we (and others) can’t speak for everyone, but we can be a part of bringing more perspectives and diversity of thought into the conversation.
The work we are doing goes beyond working to become legislators. It’s about advocating and fighting for an inclusive community where we all thrive. It’s about showing everyone that there is room for multiple perspectives and lived experiences. It’s about showing how your story doesn’t just matter, but how it can be a powerful tool for shaping policy that can affect all Alaskans.
There are so many ways to be involved in the decision-making that affects your life. You don’t have to run for office; you can submit public testimony. You don’t have to knock on doors; you can write letters to help get out the vote. You can use the public square of social media to talk about the issues that matter most. You can volunteer, work for and financially support candidates you believe in.
We know that our democracy has been severely tested over the past few years. It’s up to us to step up and fight for the community we care about, the spaces we inhabit, and the people we love. Having a wide range of people engaged in the political process is crucial to a thriving democracy.
For too long, historically excluded people have not had a seat at the table and without them there, they haven’t been heard. Our collective voices are more important now than ever before.
Don’t forget to vote!
Löki Gale Tobin is a candidate for Alaska State Senate District I.
Genevieve Mina is a candidate for Alaska State House District 19.
Jennie Armstrong is a candidate for Alaska State House District 16.
Andrew Gray is a candidate for Alaska State House District 20.
The views expressed here are the writer’s and are not necessarily endorsed by the Anchorage Daily News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)adn.com. Send submissions shorter than 200 words to letters@adn.com or click here to submit via any web browser. Read our full guidelines for letters and commentaries here.
