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Alaska, Lieutenant Governor

Former state Sen. Mike Dunleavy (R) defeated former U.S. Sen. Mark Begich (D) and Libertarian William Toien in the November 6, 2018, general election for governor of Alaska.

Alaska remained under divided government following the election, meaning no one party controlled the governorship, state Senate, and state House. While a Republican was elected governor and the GOP maintained numerical majorities in both chambers of the state legislature, a coalition of Democrats, independents, and Republicans in the state House split control of the chamber. Read more here.

Gov. Bill Walker (I) suspended his re-election campaign on October 19, 2018, saying in a statement, "In the time remaining, I believe we cannot win a three-way race." Walker's original running mate, Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott (D), resigned from his position on October 16, 2018, and was succeeded by Valerie Nurr'araaluk Davidson (I). After suspending his re-election campaign, Walker endorsed Begich.

Walker initially intended to run for re-election as a Democrat, but Begich announced he would run for the nomination shortly before the June 1 filing deadline. Dunleavy secured the GOP gubernatorial nomination on August 21.

Walker and Mallott still appeared on the state's general election ballot.

Alaska was one of 36 states that held an election for governor in 2018. Democrats gained seven previously Republican-held seats, and Republicans gained one previously independent-held seat. Heading into the 2018 elections, there were 16 Democratic governors, 33 Republican governors, and one independent governor. In 2018, 26 of the 33 states with a Republican governor held a gubernatorial election, while nine out of the 16 states with a Democratic governor held a gubernatorial election. Seventeen of the 36 seats up for election were open seats (four Democratic, 12 Republican, and one independent), meaning that the sitting governor was not seeking re-election.

Democratic Party for more information on the Democratic gubernatorial primary and here for more information on the lieutenant gubernatorial primary.
Republican Party for more information on the Republican gubernatorial primary and here for more information on the lieutenant gubernatorial primary.

Polls

Polls conducted after Walker's exit from the race (Walker still appeared on the ballot):

Alaska gubernatorial election, Begich (D) v. Dunleavy (R) v. Walker v. Toien

Poll Poll sponsor Mark Begich (D) Mike Dunleavy (R)Bill Walker (I)William Toien (L)UndecidedMargin of errorSample size
Alaska Survey Research
October 26-29, 2018
N/A 42%43%8%3%4%+/-4.4500

Alaska gubernatorial election, Begich (D) v. Dunleavy (R) v. Walker

Poll Poll sponsor Mark Begich (D) Mike Dunleavy (R)Bill Walker (I)UndecidedMargin of errorSample size
Alaska Survey Research
October 19-22, 2018
N/A 44%48%5%3%+/-4.4500


Polls conducted before Walker's exit from the race:

Alaska gubernatorial election, Begich (D) v. Dunleavy (R) v. Walker (I)

Poll Poll sponsor Mark Begich (D) Mike Dunleavy (R)Bill Walker (I)UndecidedMargin of errorSample size
Alaska Survey Research
October 12-14, 2018
N/A 26%43%27%4%+/-4.4500
Public Policy Polling
October 11-12, 2018
Tech Solidarity 23%43%24%9%+/---645
Alaska Survey Research
October 1-6, 2018
N/A 23%47%27%4%+/-4.4500
Alaska Survey Research
September 21-25, 2018
N/A 29%44%23%4%+/-4.4500
AVERAGES 25.25% 44.25% 25.25% 5.25% +/-3.3 536.25

Alaska gubernatorial general election, 2018 (hypothetical match-up)

Poll Poll sponsor Mark Begich (D) Mike Dunleavy (R)Bill Walker (I)UndecidedMargin of errorSample size
Patinkin Research
June 22-28, 2018
Walker campaign 22%36%28%15%+/-3.4800
Alaska Survey Research
June 15-21, 2018
N/A 33%38%23%6%+/-3.8654
AVERAGES 27.5% 37% 25.5% 10.5% +/-3.6 727

Alaska gubernatorial general election, 2018 (hypothetical match-up)

Poll Walker (I) Dunleavy (R)Unsure or someone elseMargin of errorSample size
Dittman Research
February 26-March 4, 2018
41%47%12%+/-3.4800 likely voters


Race ratings

Race ratings: Alaska gubernatorial election, 2018

Race trackerRace ratings
November 5, 2018October 30, 2018October 23, 2018October 16, 2018
The Cook Political ReportLean RepublicanLean RepublicanLean RepublicanLean Republican
Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesTilt RepublicanTilt RepublicanTilt RepublicanTilt Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallLean RepublicanLean RepublicanLean RepublicanLikely Republican

Election history

2014

In the 2014 gubernatorial election, the independent Democratic Party-endorsed ticket of Bill Walker and Byron Mallott defeated incumbents Sean Parnell (R) and Dan Sullivan (R).

Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Independent Green check mark transparent.pngBill Walker/Byron Mallott 48.1% 134,658
Republican Sean Parnell/Dan Sullivan Incumbent 45.9% 128,435
Libertarian Carolyn "Care" Clift/Andrew C. Lee 3.2% 8,985
Constitution J.R. Myers/Maria Rensel 2.5% 6,987
Nonpartisan Write-in votes 0.3% 893
Total Votes 279,958
Election results via Alaska Division of Elections

2010

On November 2, 2010, Sean Parnell/Mead Treadwell won election to the office of Governor/Lt. Governor of Alaska. They defeated Ethan Berkowitz/Diane Benson (D), William Toien/Jeffrey Brown (L) and Donald R. Wright (I) in the general election.

Governor/Lt. Governor of Alaska, 2010

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngSean Parnell/Mead Treadwell Incumbent 59.1% 151,318
Democratic Ethan Berkowitz/Diane Benson 37.7% 96,519
Libertarian William Toien/Jeffrey Brown 1% 2,682
Alaskan Independence Wright/Donald R. 1.9% 4,775
Write-in N/A 0.4% 898
Total Votes 256,192
Election results via State of Alaska Division of Elections.

2006

On November 7, 2006, Sarah Palin/Sean Parnell won election to the office of Governor/Lt. Governor of Alaska. They defeated Tony Knowles/Ethan Berkowitz (D), Andrew Halcro/Fay Von Gemmingen (I), Don Wright/Douglas Welton (AI), William Toien/Robert Mirabal (Lib) and David M. Massie (Green) in the general election.

Governor/Lt. Governor of Alaska, 2006

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngSarah Palin/Sean Parnell 48.4% 114,697
Democratic Tony Knowles/Ethan Berkowitz 41% 97,238
Independent Andrew Halcro/Fay Von Gemmingen 9.5% 22,443
Alaskan Independence Don Wright/Douglas Welton 0.5% 1,285
Libertarian William Toien/Robert Mirabal 0.3% 682
Green Massie, David M. 0.3% 593
Total Votes 236,938
Election results via State of Alaska Division of Elections.

2002

On November 5, 2002, Frank Murkowski/Loren Leman won re-election to the office of Governor/Lt. Governor of Alaska. They defeated Fran Ulmer/Ernie Hall (D), Diane Benson/Coburn (Green), Don Wright/DeNardo (AI), Raymond Vinzant/Mendias (MOD) and William Toien/Anders (Lib) in the general election.

Governor/Lt. Governor of Alaska, 2002

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngFrank Murkowski/Loren Leman 55.8% 129,279
Democratic Ulmer/Hall 40.7% 94,216
Green Diane Benson/Coburn 1.3% 2,926
Alaskan Independence Don Wright/DeNardo 0.9% 2,185
Moderate Raymond Vinzant/Medias 0.7% 1,506
Libertarian William Toien/Anders 0.5% 1,106
Write-in N/A 0.1% 263
Total Votes 231,481
Election results via State of Alaska Division of Elections.

Demographics

Demographic data for Alaska

AlaskaU.S.
Total population:737,709316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):570,6413,531,905
Gender
Female:47.6%50.8%
Race and ethnicity**
White:66%73.6%
Black/African American:3.4%12.6%
Asian:5.9%5.1%
Native American:13.8%0.8%
Pacific Islander:1.2%0.2%
Two or more:8.4%3%
Hispanic/Latino:6.5%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:92.1%86.7%
College graduation rate:28%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$72,515$53,889
Persons below poverty level:11.3%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Alaska.

As of July 2016, Alaska's three largest cities were Anchorage (pop. est. 294,000), Juneau (pop. est. 32,000), and Fairbanks (pop. est. 32,000).