I'm sorry to report that Alaska's Clean Elections ballot initiative did not pass yesterday -- in fact, on the primary ballot where both Sen. Ted Stevens (R) and Rep. Don Young (R) faced primary challenges none of the ballot initiatives got much love. But as they say, Rome wasn't built in a day. This is only the beginning of Alaska's fight for Clean Elections.

It was an interesting day of voting in Alaska. Sen. Stevens survived a primary challenge despite his recent indictments and will go on to face Democratic challenger and Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich in November. The results of Rep. Young's primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell are still too close to call with the last ballots being counted now. Young has been plagued by talk of scandal this year and it's possible he'll face indictments of his own soon.

We're disappointed by the loss for Clean Elections, but we've always had to fight long and hard to win these public financing systems and the presence of this issue on the ballot has raised visibility which we can use when we take this issue back to the state legislature still reeling from the VECO scandal and looking for a solution that will restore voters' faith in their elected officials.

Alaskans for Clean Elections fought the good fight and will continue to do so as we move forward.