The 2022 Alaska gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Alaska. Incumbent Republican governor Mike Dunleavy won re-election to a second term, becoming the first Republican governor to be re-elected to a second term since Jay Hammond in 1978 and the first governor, regardless of political affiliation, to be re-elected to a second term since Tony Knowles in 1998.
Following voter approval of Ballot Measure 2 during the 2020 Alaska elections, this was the first gubernatorial election in Alaska held under a new election process. All candidates ran in a nonpartisan blanket top-four primary on August 16, 2022, and the top four candidates advanced to the general election.
In addition to Dunleavy, Democratic former state representative Les Gara, independent former governor Bill Walker, and Republican Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor Charlie Pierce advanced to the general election. In the general election, Dunleavy narrowly received the majority of votes in the first round, preventing an instant runoff.
Primary election Republican Party Advanced to general Mike Dunleavy, incumbent governor Running mate: Nancy Dahlstrom, former commissioner of the Alaska Department of Corrections and former state representative Previous running mate: Kevin Meyer, incumbent lieutenant governor (withdrew December 28, 2021) Charlie Pierce, mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Running mate: Edie Grunwald, chair of the Alaska Parole Board and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2018
Eliminated in primary David Haeg, hunting guide Waynette Coleman, nurse Christopher Kurka, state representative Running mate: Paul Hueper, activist Bruce Walden, veteran and author Running mate: Tanya Lange, social service worker
Declined Natasha von Imhof, state senator
Democratic Party Advanced to general Les Gara, former state representative Running mate: Jessica Cook, teacher
Declined Mike Navarre, former mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough and former state representative (endorsed Walker)
Libertarian Party Eliminated in primary William S. "Billy" Toien, nominee for governor in 2010 and 2018 Running mate: Shirley Rainbolt
Alaskan Independence Party Eliminated in primary John Howe, machinist and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2020 Running mate: Shellie Wyatt
Independents Advanced to general Bill Walker, former governor Running mate: Heidi Drygas, former commissioner of the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Eliminated in primary William Nemec, former Denali Borough Assembly member Running mate: Ronnie Ostrem
Declined Alyse Galvin, public education advocate and candidate for in 2018 and 2020 (running for state house) Al Gross, orthopedic surgeon, commercial fisherman, son of former Alaska Attorney General Avrum Gross, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020 (ran for U.S. House)
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MikeDunleavy(R) LesGara(D) CharliePierce(R) BillWalker(I) Other UndecidedAlaska Survey ResearchJuly 20–25, 20221,253 (LV)± 3.0%41%22%5%23%9%–Lake Research Partners (D)Lake Research Partners (D)May 5–11, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%40%24%5%18%3%10%
Results
General election Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report July 26, 2022 Inside Elections July 22, 2022 Sabato's Crystal Ball June 29, 2022PoliticoApril 1, 2022 RCPJanuary 10, 2022Fox News May 12, 2022538August 25, 2022Elections DailyNovember 7, 2022
Debates 2022 Alaska gubernatorial debates Date Host Link Participants Participant Absent Non-invitee Invitee Withdrawn Mike Dunleavy Bill Walker Les Gara Charlie Pierce 1 October 11, 2022 Civic and Convention CenterYoutube
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RCVcount MikeDunleavy(R) LesGara(D) CharliePierce(R) BillWalker(I) Undecided /Not RankedDittman ResearchDittman ResearchOctober 21–25, 2022403 (LV)–147%25%4%23%—251%25%Elim24%—Alaska Survey ResearchAlaska Survey ResearchSeptember 25–27, 20221,282 (LV)± 3.0%143%28%7%21%—248%28%Elim23%—353%47%ElimElim—3*52%ElimElim48%—Fabrizio Ward (R)/Impact Research (D)Fabrizio Ward (R)/Impact Research (D)September 6–11, 20221,050 (LV)45%24%6%17%8% 149%26%7%19%8% 254%26%Elim20%10% 359%41%ElimElim13% Alaska Survey ResearchAlaska Survey ResearchJuly 2–5, 20221,201 (LV)± 2.9%144%26%11%20%—251%26%Elim23%—
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RCVcount MikeDunleavy(R) LesGara(D) Natasha(R) BillWalker(I) UndecidedAlaska Survey ResearchAlaska Survey ResearchOctober 22–27, 2021969 (RV)± 3.2%143%22%8%28%—246%24%Elim30%—349%ElimElim51%— Mike Dunleavy vs. Les Gara Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MikeDunleavy (R) LesGara (D) UndecidedHays Research Group (I)July 22–24, 2022613 (LV)± 4.0%55%45%— Mike Dunleavy vs. Bill Walker Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MikeDunleavy (R) BillWalker (I) UndecidedHays Research Group (I)July 22–24, 2022613 (LV)± 4.0%50%50%—
Results
Boroughs and census areas that flipped from Democratic to Republican Anchorage Kodiak Island (largest city: Kodiak Island) Bristol Bay Borough (largest city: Naknek) Lake & Peninsula Borough (largest city: Newhalen) Aleutians West Census Area (largest city: Unalaska) Aleutians East Borough (largest city: Akutan) Bethel Census Area (largest city: Bethel) Dilingham Census Area (largest city: Dilingham) North Slope Borough (largest city: Utqiaġvik) Northwest Arctic Borough (largest city: Kotzebue) Kusilvak Census Area (largest city: Hooper Bay) Nome Census Area (largest city: Nome) Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area (largest city: Fort Yukon) Prince of Wales–Hyder Census Area (largest city: Craig) Petersburg
Boroughs and census areas that flipped from Democratic to Independent Juneau Sitka Hoonah–Angoon Census Area (largest town: Hoonah) Haines Borough (largest census-designated place: Haines) Yakutat
See also 2022 United States gubernatorial elections 2022 United States Senate election in Alaska 2022 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska 2022 Alaska Senate election 2022 Alaska House of Representatives election 2022 Alaska elections
Notes
Partisan clients
References
External links Official campaign websites Mike Dunleavy (R) for Governor Les Gara (D) for Governor Charlie Pierce (R) for Governor