Alaska gubernatorial election, 2018

The 2018 Alaska gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the Governor of Alaska, governor and List of lieutenant governors of Alaska, lieutenant governor of Alaska. In the primaries for recognized political parties, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run separately. The winners of each respective primary for governor and lieutenant governor then become a joint ticket in the general election for their political party. Incumbent independent governor Bill Walker (American politician), Bill Walker was running for reelection in what was originally a three-way race between Walker, Republican nominee Mike Dunleavy (politician), Mike Dunleavy, a former State Senator, and Democratic nominee Mark Begich, a former U.S. Senator. However, Walker dropped out on October 19, 2018, and endorsed Begich. In spite of Walker dropping out, Dunleavy defeated Begich in what would become the only gubernatorial gain by a Republican candidate in 2018.

Independent candidates for governor and lieutenant governor may form a ticket that will appear on the general election ballot, provided that both candidates on the ticket collect enough valid petition signatures, as mandated by the Alaska Division of Elections.

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. In October 2017 the AKDP sued for the right to allow non-Democrats to compete for and win the Democratic nomination, which was ultimately decided in their favor in April 2018. This move was widely thought to benefit incumbent Gov. Bill Walker, to foreclose the possibility of a Democratic nominee splitting the vote with Walker against a Republican nominee. However, with the entry of former senator Mark Begich into the race, Walker withdrew from the Democratic primary and forged ahead with a fully independent bid for reelection.

Governor

Declared

* Mark Begich (Democratic), former U.S. Senator
* William S. "Billy" Toien (Libertarian), Libertarian candidate for Alaska Governor in Alaska gubernatorial election, 2010, 2010

Polling

;with Mark Begich

Endorsements

Results

Lieutenant governor

Declared

* Debra Call (Democratic), Cook Inlet Tribal Council Board of Directors Representative

Withdrawn

* Edgar Blatchford (Democratic), former mayor of Seward, Alaska, Seward

Results

Republican primary

Governor

Nominated

* Mike Dunleavy (politician), Mike Dunleavy, educator and former state senator

Eliminated in primary

* Dorian Colbry
* Thomas A. "Tom" Gordon
*Gerald Heikes, perennial candidate
*Merica Hlatcu
*Michael Sheldon
*Mead Treadwell, former lieutenant governor

Withdrawn

* Mike Chenault, state representative and former List of Speakers of the Alaska House of Representatives, Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives
* Scott Hawkins, businessman

Declined

* Bill Walker (American politician), Bill Walker, incumbent Independent (politician), Independent Governor (running for re-election as an Independent)
* Robert Gillam, businessman
* Loren Leman, former lieutenant governor
* Anna MacKinnon, state senator (endorsed Mike Dunleavy)
* Joe Miller (Alaska politician), Joe Miller, former magistrate judge and perennial candidate
* Sean Parnell, former List of Governors of Alaska, governor of Alaska (endorsed Mike Dunleavy)
*Frank Murkowski, former governor of Alaska and U.S. Senator
* Peter Micciche, state senator (running for re-election to state senate)
* Dan Sullivan (Anchorage mayor), Dan Sullivan, former List of mayors of Anchorage, Alaska, mayor of Anchorage, Alaska, Anchorage and nominee for lieutenant governor in Alaska gubernatorial election, 2014, 2014 (endorsed Mike Dunleavy)
* Ben Stevens, former President of the Alaska State Senate, son of former U.S. Senator, President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, Solicitor of the Interior Department & U.S. Attorney Ted Stevens

Endorsements

Polling

Results

Lieutenant governor

Declared

* Lynn Gattis, former state representative and candidate for the state senate in 2016
* Edie Grunwald, retired air force colonel and former human resources director for the Alaska National Guard
* Sharon Jackson, activist and former congressional staffer
* Kevin Meyer (politician), Kevin Meyer, state senator and former president of the Alaska Senate
* Gary Stevens (politician), Gary Stevens, state senator
* Stephen Wright, air force veteran

Declined

* David S. Wilson, David Wilson, state senator
* Glen Thompson, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska, Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assemblyman

Results

Independents

Governor

Withdrew

* Bill Walker (American politician), Bill Walker (Independent), incumbent governor

Lieutenant governor

Withdrew

* Byron Mallott (Democratic), incumbent lieutenant governor until October 16
*Valerie Davidson (Independent), incumbent lieutenant governor since October 16

General election

Campaign

Independent politician, Independent candidate and incumbent governor Bill Walker (American politician), Bill Walker announced on October 19 that he was suspending his campaign and endorsing Mark Begich, three days after Walker's running mate and incumbent lieutenant governor Byron Mallott resigned from office (and amid low polling numbers just three weeks before election day). However, Walker and Mallott still remained on the ballot as the deadline to withdraw was on September 4.

Debates

Predictions

Endorsements

Polling

;with Bill Walker (campaign suspended), Mike Dunleavy, and Mark Begich

;with Mark Begich and Mike Dunleavy

;with Bill Walker and Mike Dunleavy

;with Bill Walker and Mark Begich

Results

Notes

References

External links

Candidates
at Vote Smart
Candidates
at Ballotpedia

;Official gubernatorial campaign websites
Mark Begich (D) for GovernorMike Dunleavy (R) for Governor

;Official lieutenant gubernatorial campaign websites
Kevin Meyer (R) for Lieutenant Governor

;Alaska Division of Elections
Unofficial Election Results - Nov. 2018

{{2018 United States elections

2018 Alaska elections, Gubernatorial
Alaska gubernatorial elections, 2018
2018 United States gubernatorial elections, Alaska
Mark Begich