Changes

== 2010 Election ==

== 2010 Election ==

Joe Miller defeated incumbent [[RINO]] Lisa Murkowski for the Republican nomination. He was able to do this because of his solid conservative positions, Sarah Palin and Tea Party support. Joe Miller did not effectively handle the liberal media, even going so far as to have one reporter and online news magazine editor handcuffed by a heavy handed security detail he inexplicably brought to a middle school.<ref>http://www.adn.com/2010/10/17/1506223/miller-security-guards-handcuff.html</ref> Selfish and arrogant, Murkowski decided to run as a write-in candidate. Murkowski was able to secure millions of dollars in advertising from the [[Alaska Native Corporations]], and other native groups that Murkowski fought to get earmarks for. The Democrat candidate was weak and 30% of Democrats voted for the independent Murkowski.<ref>[http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/10/03/Murkowski-write-in-drawing-Democrat-votes/UPI-12251286141617/ Murkowski write-in drawing Democrat votes, UPI.com, October 3, 2010]</ref>

Joe Miller defeated incumbent [[RINO]] Lisa Murkowski for the Republican nomination. He was able to do this because of his solid conservative positions, Sarah Palin and Tea Party support. Joe Miller did not effectively handle the liberal media, even going so far as to have one reporter and online news magazine editor handcuffed by a heavy handed security detail he inexplicably brought to a middle school.<ref>http://www.adn.com/2010/10/17/1506223/miller-security-guards-handcuff.html</ref> Selfish and arrogant, Murkowski decided to run as a write-in candidate. Murkowski was able to secure millions of dollars in advertising from the [[Alaska Native Corporations]], and other native groups that Murkowski fought to get earmarks for. The Democrat candidate was weak and 30% of Democrats voted for the independent Murkowski.<ref>[https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/10/03/Murkowski-write-in-drawing-Democrat-votes/UPI-12251286141617/ Murkowski write-in drawing Democrat votes, UPI.com, October 3, 2010]</ref>

Miller disputed the election results citing Alaska legislation which states that the name written in must be the same as the candidates name "as it appears" on the candidates write-in paperwork, but Murkowski beat Miller by nearly 10,000 votes, only 8,000 of which were challenged on these grounds.<ref>http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/10GENR/data/results.htm</ref><ref>http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/121210/loc_755533373.shtml</ref> Miller's insistence that the courts follow the legislation as written prior to November 2010. The State of Alaska, Alaska case law, and federal election guidelines all indicated before the election, that voter intent is the important factor for determining if a vote should be counted. That law was amended in January 2011.

Miller disputed the election results citing Alaska legislation which states that the name written in must be the same as the candidates name "as it appears" on the candidates write-in paperwork, but Murkowski beat Miller by nearly 10,000 votes, only 8,000 of which were challenged on these grounds.<ref>http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/10GENR/data/results.htm</ref><ref>http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/121210/loc_755533373.shtml</ref> Miller's insistence that the courts follow the legislation as written prior to November 2010. The State of Alaska, Alaska case law, and federal election guidelines all indicated before the election, that voter intent is the important factor for determining if a vote should be counted. That law was amended in January 2011.