The 2014 United States Senate election in Alaska took place on November 4, 2014, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Alaska, concurrently with the election of the governor of Alaska, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

This was one of the seven Democratic-held Senate seats up for election in a state that Mitt Romney won in the 2012 presidential election. Incumbent Senator Mark Begich ran for re-election to a second term in office. Primary elections were held on August 19, 2014. Begich was renominated and the Republicans picked former Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources Dan Sullivan.

On November 7, Sullivan held an 8,000-vote lead, which on November 11 had shrunk slightly to 7,991 votes. Multiple media outlets called the race for Sullivan on November 12 and Begich conceded to Sullivan on November 17.Joseph, Cameron. Begich concedes Alaska Senate race, The Hill, November 17, 2014. Republican Sean Parnell simultaneously lost the gubernatorial election to independent candidate Bill Walker, marking just the fifth time in the last 50 years in which U.S. Senate and gubernatorial incumbents from different political parties were simultaneously defeated in the same state.

Background Democrat Mark Begich won the 2008 election, defeating seven-term Republican incumbent Ted Stevens by just under 4,000 votes. A few days before the election, Stevens had been convicted of a felony, but the case against Stevens was later dismissed by the Justice Department after the election, when serious issues of prosecutorial misconduct emerged. In the 2012 presidential election, Mitt Romney easily won Alaska by 13 points, which made Begich a prime target during an election cycle in which Republicans needed a net gain of six seats to retake control of the Senate.

Democratic–Libertarian–Independence primary Candidates from the Alaska Democratic Party, Alaska Libertarian Party and Alaskan Independence Party appear on the same ballot, with the highest-placed candidate from each party receiving that party's nomination.

Democratic candidates

Declared Mark Begich, incumbent U.S. Senator William Bryk, attorney and perennial candidate from New York

Alaskan Independence candidates

Declared Zachary Kile, orthopedic surgeon Vic Kohring, former Republican state representative

Libertarian candidates

Declared Mark Fish, former chairman of the Alaska Libertarian Party, former Sarah Palin and Joe Miller staffer and Republican nominee for the state house in 2008 Scott Kohlhaas, former chairman of the Alaska Libertarian Party and perennial candidate Thom Walker, University of Alaska Brooks Range research station operations manager

Declined Joe Miller, former magistrate judge, Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2010 and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014

Results

Subsequent events In an upset, the unknown Thom Walker won the Libertarian nomination despite not campaigning and raising no money. Libertarians speculated that he was a Republican "plant" designed to keep a more viable Libertarian from winning the nomination and then taking votes away from the Republican nominee in the general election. They further speculated that Walker was chosen because he shared a surname with Bill Walker (no relation), who was running as an independent candidate in the 2014 gubernatorial election, and that voters may have been confused because Bill Walker did not appear on the primary ballot and thus they may have voted for Thom Walker in error. This confusion could have extended to the general election, with voters picking Thom Walker for the Senate, thinking he was Bill Walker.

Walker withdrew from the race on August 27, saying that "my work location and schedule will have me out of town, out of contact and off the campaign trail for too long." The Libertarian executive board replaced him as the nominee with Mark Fish.

Alaskan Independence nominee Vic Kohring, who had changed his voter registration from Republican to Alaskan Independence just before the filing deadline, withdrew from the race on September 2 and endorsed Dan Sullivan. The Alaskan Independence Party did not name a replacement nominee before the deadline for them to do so had passed.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

John Jaramillo, air force veteran Joe Miller, former U.S. magistrate judge and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2010 Dan Sullivan, former Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources and former Alaska Attorney General Mead Treadwell, Lieutenant Governor of Alaska

Withdrew Kathleen Tonn, anti-abortion activist

Declined Timothy Mark Burgess, judge on the United States District Court for the District of Alaska Loren Leman, former lieutenant governor Lesil McGuire, state senator Sarah Palin, former Governor of Alaska and nominee for Vice President of the United States in 2008 Sarah Palin Ups Her 2014 Game, Endorses In Competitive GOP Senate Primary Sean Parnell, Governor of Alaska (ran for re-election and lost) Dan Sullivan, Mayor of Anchorage (ran for Lieutenant Governor and lost)

Filed Ted Stevens, former U.S. Senator. Stevens had filed to run for his old seat, but he was killed in a plane crash on August 9, 2010.

Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JohnJaramillo LorenLeman JoeMiller SarahPalin SeanParnell Dan A.Sullivan Dan S.Sullivan KathleenTonn MeadTreadwell Other/UndecidedMoore Information (R-S. Sullivan)Moore Information (R-S. Sullivan) August 4–5, 2014 500 — — — 17% — — — 42% — 25% 16%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling 337 ± 5.3% 2% — 20% — — — 35% — 29% 14%Moore Information (R-S. Sullivan)Moore Information (R-S. Sullivan) July 29–31, 2014 375 ± 5.5% — — 16% — — — 35% — 27% 22%Hellenthal & Assoc.Hellenthal & Assoc. June 17–28, 2014 — — — — 21% — — — 35% — 31% 13%Moore Information (R-S. Sullivan)Moore Information (R-S. Sullivan) June 16–18, 2014 500 — — — 13% — — — 36% — 27% 24%Dittman Research (R-A. Sullivan)Dittman Research (R-A. Sullivan) May 27–29, 2014 500 ± 4.4% — — 12% — — — 37% — 35% 16%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling May 8–11, 2014 313 ± 5.5% 3% — 14% — — — 40% — 26% 17%Moore Information (R-S. Sullivan)Moore Information (R-S. Sullivan) April 27–28, 2014 — — — — 12% — — — 38% — 22% 29%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling 442 ± 4.7% 2% — 20% — — — 30% 4% 25% 19%Ivan MooreIvan Moore December 15–22, 2013 335 — — — 19% — — — 29% — 34% 18%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling July 25–28, 2013 507 ± 4.4% — — 12% 36% — — 15% — 26% 11% — — 24% — — — 25% — 33% 19% — — 30% — — — — — 53% 18%Harper Polling May 6–7, 2013 379 ± 5.0% — — 14% 32% — — — — 30% 24% — — 19% 52% — — — — — 29%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling February 4–5, 2013 537 ± 4.2% — 16% 17% — 24% 19% — — 14% 11% — 20% 19% — — 29% — — 23% 9%Harper PollingHarper Polling January 29–30, 2013 1,157 ± 2.9% — — 12% 27% 32% — — — 14% 15%

Results

Independents

Candidates

Declared Ted Gianoutsos, founder of the Veterans Party of Alaska and perennial candidate Sid Hill, political gadfly Stubbs, cat and mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska

Declined Joe Miller, former magistrate judge and Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2010

General election

Fundraising Candidate Raised Spent Cash on Hand Debt Mark Begich (D) $7,918,887 $8,487,590 $721,505 0 Dan Sullivan (R) $6,093,368 $7,579,632 $449,506 $43,000

Debates Begich and Sullivan participated in a televised debate regarding fisheries on August 27, 2014, at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Another televised debate concerning natural resources was held on October 1 in Kodiak, Alaska.

Complete video of debate

Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 3, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 3, 2014 Rothenberg Political Report November 3, 2014 Real Clear Politics November 3, 2014

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror MarkBegich (D) DanSullivan (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling November 1–2, 2014 1,052 ± 3.0% 45% 46% 4%Mark Fish (L) 2%, Ted Gianoutsos (I) 2% 5% 46% 47% — 7%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 27–30, 2014 887 ± 4.0% 42% 47% — 11%Ivan Moore October 24–26, 2014 544 — 48% 42% 7% 4%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov October 16–23, 2014 561 ± 9.0% 44% 48% 0% 9%Harstad Strategic ResearchHarstad Strategic Research October 18–22, 2014 700 — 44% 44% 4% 7%Hellenthal & AssociatesHellenthal & Associates October 15–21, 2014 403 ± 4.9% 49% 39% 7%Mark Fish (L) 3%, Ted Gianoutsos (I) 4% 6%Rasmussen Reports October 8–12, 2014 700 ± 4.0% 45% 48% 3% 3%Fox NewsFox News October 4–7, 2014 706 ± 3.5% 40% 44% 6%Mark Fish (L) 3%, Ted Gianoutsos (I) 1%, Other 2% 10%CNN/ORCCNN/ORC October 1–6, 2014 704 LV ± 3.5% 44% 50% — 5% 875 RV ± 3.4% 44% 48% — 8%Hickman AnalyticsHickman Analytics September 26 – October 2, 2014 400 ± 4.9% 41% 46% 4%Mark Fish (L) 4%, Ted Gianoutsos (I) 1% 9%CBS News/New York TimesCBS News/New York Times September 20 – October 1, 2014 593 ± 5.0% 42% 48% 2% 8%Rassmussen ReportsRassmussen Reports September 23–24, 2014 750 ± 4.0% 43% 48% 5% 4%Marc HellenthalMarc Hellenthal September 12–24, 2014 400 — 42% 46% 7%Mark Fish (L) 5%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling September 18–21, 2014 880 ± 3.3% 41% 43% 5%Mark Fish (L) 3%, Ted Gianoutsos (I) 2% 11% 42% 45% — 13%DittmanDittman September 14–17, 2014 800 ± 3.5% 43% 49% — 8%Hays Research/AFL-CIOHays Research/AFL-CIO September 13–14, 2014 500 ± 4.4% 41% 36% 23%Harstad Strategic ResearchHarstad Strategic Research September 7–10, 2014 709 ± 4.0% 45% 40% 7% 8%CBS News/New York TimesCBS News/New York Times August 18 – September 2, 2014 412 ± 6.0% 38% 43% 6% 12%Harstad Strategic Research August 24–27, 2014 807 ± 4.0% 41% 40% 10% 8%ccAdvertisingccAdvertising August 21–24, 2014 4,403 — 31% 42% — 27%Rasmussen Reports August 20–21, 2014 750 ± 4% 45% 47% 3% 4%Public Policy Polling July 31 – August 1, 2014 673 ± 3.8% 43% 37% 7%Mark Fish (L) 4%, Vic Kohring (AI) 3%, Ted Gianoutsos (I) 0%, Sidney Hill (I) 0% 12% 45% 41% — 14%Harstad Strategic Research July 20–24, 2014 808 ± 4.0% 44% 37% 10% 9%CBS News/New York TimesCBS News/New York Times July 5–24, 2014 452 ± 5.2% 46% 35% 9% 10%Basswood ResearchBasswood Research June 29–30, 2014 500 ± 4.4% 40% 45% — 15%Moore Information (R-Sullivan)Moore Information (R-Sullivan) June 16–18, 2014 500 ± 4.0% 43% 43% — 14%Public Policy Polling May 8–11, 2014 582 ± 4.1% 42% 37% 7%Zachary Kile 5%, Ted Gianoutsos 1%, Sidney Hill 1% 14%Moore Information (R-Sullivan)Moore Information (R-Sullivan) April 27–28, 2014 500 ± 4.0% 44% 42% — 14%Magellan StrategiesMagellan Strategies April 14, 2014 603 ± 4.0% 41% 46% 7% 6%Rasmussen Reports March 19–20, 2014 750 ± 4.0% 44% 44% 3% 9%Public Policy Polling January 30 – February 1, 2014 850 ± 3.4% 41% 37% 9%Zachary Kile 6%, Ted Gianoutsos 1%, Sidney Hill 2% 13%Harper PollingHarper Polling January 20–22, 2014 677 ± 3.8% 41% 47% — 12%Harper PollingHarper Polling September 24–25, 2013 731 ± 3.6% 43% 41% — 16%Public Policy Polling July 25–28, 2013 890 ± 3.3% 46% 39% — 15%

with Leman Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror MarkBegich (D) LorenLeman (R) ZacharyKile (AIP) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 4–5, 2013 1,129 ± 2.9% 50% 40% — — 10%

with Miller