National Affairs: Alaska’s Senator?

Most Alaskans assumed that as the territory passed into statehood, Governor (by presidential appointment) Mike Stepovich, 39, would stay (by election) right where he is, in Juneau’s 30-room executive mansion. The assumption had impelling logic. Mike would run in place —a distinct advantage—and, if elected, could exert sweeping appointive powers to seed the new state offices with Republicans. But the new game of politics in an unborn state is not that logical.

For one thing, Governor Mike stands under heavy obligation to Washington architects of Alaska statehood, especially Secretary of the Interior Fred A. Seaton. The Republicans among them have pointedly communicated to him the U.S. Senate’s need for Republican bodies.

For another, running for Governor would commit Mike to a possibly losing fight against Democrat William A. Egan, former Speaker of the territorial House and a more effective campaigner.

Finally, Mike has been immobilized by the menace of E. L. (“Bob”) Bartlett, elected Democratic delegate to Congress for seven terms and widely regarded in Alaska as politically invincible. Bartlett was openly after the Stepovich scalp, and even while announcing for the U.S. Senate, vowed to change his mind the moment Mike declared for Governor. Under pressure of cooler heads, Bartlett reconsidered, reaffirmed his senatorial candidacy “without conditions of any kind.”

Under the terms of statehood, Alaska’s two Senate seats are called Term A and Term B. In order to provide the groundwork for the constitutionally required overlap of senatorial terms, one has a tenure of four years, the other of six, but the Senate will decree which is which only after the Nov. 25 election. Bartlett filed for Term A.

This blazed a clear trail for Mike Stepovich. Last week he announced his candidacy for Term B. There he will oppose grey former Territorial Governor Ernest Gruening, a Democrat Mike Stepovich may be able to beat.