The 2010 Alaska gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010. Former Governor Sarah Palin did not run, having resigned in July 2009. Incumbent Governor Sean Parnell, who as lieutenant governor succeeded Palin following her resignation, announced that he would seek a full term.
Following the primary election on Tuesday, August 24, 2010, the Democratic ticket consists of Ethan Berkowitz and Diane E. Benson running against Republican Parnell and his running mate, Mead Treadwell. In the general election Parnell/Treadwell defeated Berkowitz/Benson by a wide margin.Election Night 2010: Incumbents Parnell and Young Re-Elected, Possibly Murkowski , APRN 3-10-2010
Parnell received just over 59% of the vote, the highest percentage for any Alaska gubernatorial candidate in history. This is the only election in Alaskan history where any party won three consecutive gubernatorial elections.
Republican primary
Certified for the ballot Gerald L. Heikes, perennial candidate Merica Hlatcu Sam Little, truck driver and country musician Sean Parnell, incumbent Governor Ralph Samuels, former Majority Leader of the Alaska House of Representatives Bill Walker, attorney and former Mayor of Valdez
Declined Sarah Palin, former Governor Ted Stevens, former U.S. Senator & U.S. Attorney (ran for 2014 U.S. Senate election)
Withdrew John Harris, former Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives, announced in January 2010 that he would be seeking re-election to his House seat instead
Polling Poll source Dates administered SeanParnell RalphSamuels BillWalker UndecidedHellenthal & AssociatesHellenthal & Associates July 22–25, 2010 60% 13% 15% 12%Basswood ResearchBasswood Research February 27–28, 2010 69% 9% 4% 21%
Results
Alaskan Independence-Democratic-Libertarian primary
Candidates
Alaskan Independence Party Don Wright, perennial candidate and former president of the Alaska Federation of Natives (1970-1972)
Democratic Party Ethan Berkowitz, former Minority Leader of the Alaska House of Representatives, nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 2006 and Congress in 2008 Hollis S. French, State Senator Bob Poe, Businessman (Withdrawn)
Libertarian Party William Toien
Results
General election
Candidates Ethan Berkowitz (D) Berkowitz's running mate is college professor Diane Benson, who ran for Governor in 1998 on the Green Party ticket. Sean Parnell (R) Parnell's running mate is businessman Mead Treadwell. William Toien (L) Toien's running mate is Jeffrey Brown. Don Wright (AIP) Wright's running mate is Michigan Militia founder Norm Olson.
Lieutenant Governor Candidates
In Alaska, the lieutenant governor runs separately from the governor in the primary election. The respective party nominees for each office are then joined as a party ticket in the general election. Occasionally, a minor party will nominate a candidate for governor, but without a running mate.
Diane E. Benson (Democrat) (won primary) Eddie Burke (Republican), Anchorage businessman and radio talk show host Craig Campbell (Republican), incumbent (withdrew April 2010) Lynette Moreno-Hinz, Anchorage taxicab driver who was involved with a taxi deregulation ballot issue in 2008 Jay Ramras (Republican), Fairbanks businessman and member of the Alaska House Mead Treadwell (Republican) (won primary)
Predictions Source Ranking As of Cook Political Report October 14, 2010 Rothenberg October 28, 2010 RealClearPolitics November 1, 2010 Sabato's Crystal Ball October 28, 2010 CQ Politics October 28, 2010
Polling Poll source Dates administered SeanParnell (R) EthanBerkowitz (D)CNN/Time MagazineCNN/Time Magazine October 15–19, 2010 62% 36%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 13, 2010 52% 39%CNN/Time Magazine September 24–28, 2010 57% 38%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports September 19, 2010 54% 34%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports August 31, 2010 53% 43%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling August 27–28, 2010 55% 37%Basswood ResearchBasswood Research August 28–29, 2010 54% 40%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports July 15, 2010 53% 34%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports May 6, 2010 58% 30%
Fundraising
Campaign activity disclosure reports are filed with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. For the period ending February 1, 2010, the candidates and others subject to filing have reported the following to APOC:
Candidate Cash on hand Candidate'sown money Total income Total expenses Total debts Surplus/(deficit)Berkowitz$0$10,295.77$128,178.52$19,500.20$0$108,678.32Parnell$0$0$214,696.77$93,842.38$2,025.00$123,150.38
Results
Boroughs and census areas that flipped from Democratic to Republican Ketchikan Gateway Borough (largest city: Ketchikan) Petersburg Bethel Census Area (largest city: Bethel) Kusilvak Census Area (largest city: Hooper Bay) North Slope Borough (largest city: Utqiaġvik) Prince of Wales–Hyder Census Area (largest city: Craig) Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area (largest city: Fort Yukon) Juneau Haines Borough (largest census-designated place: Haines) Aleutians East Borough (largest city: Akutan)
References
External links Alaska Division of Elections Alaska Governor Candidates at Project Vote Smart Alaska Governor 2010 from OurCampaigns.com Campaign contributions for 2010 Alaska Governor from Follow the Money 2010 Alaska Gubernatorial General Election graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com Election 2010: Alaska Governor from Rasmussen Reports 2010 Alaska Governor Race from RealClearPolitics Alaska Governor's Race from CQ Politics Race Profile in The New York Times Official campaign sites (archived) Ethan Berkowitz for Governor (D) Sean Parnell for Governor (R)