Elections in Alaska
Encyclopedia
The number of elections in Alaska varies by year, but typically municipal elections occur every year, plus primary and general elections for federal and state offices occur during even-numbered years. Alaska
has a gubernatorial election
every four years. Members of the state's United States congressional
delegation
run for election or re-election at the times set out in the United States Constitution
. Primary election
s assist in choosing political parties' nominees for various positions. On a regional basis (see list of boroughs and census areas in Alaska), elections also cover municipal issues. In addition, a special election
can occur at any time.
s since 1960.
With the exception of the candidacy of Barry Goldwater
, the Republican Party
has carried Alaska in every presidential election.
United States Senate
Alaska has a Class II Senator (currently Mark Begich
) and a Class III Senator (currently Lisa Murkowski
). Alaska first elected Senators in
1956 under the "Alaska-Tennessee Plan." They had no vote in the Senate, but were sent to represent Alaska as if they were, to lobby for statehood, and to assume the office of senator should the situation arise. Alaska's first voting senators were elected in the 1958 election; it was a special election due to the former territory's pending admission as a state.
United States House of Representatives
Alaska has had a single congressional district
in the United States House of Representatives since statehood was granted in 1959.
Alaska Legislature
Alaska Senators
have terms of four years; half of them are elected every two years. Alaska Representatives
have terms of two years; all of them are elected every two years. The state's redistricting process allows the power to shorten the terms of state senators should a redistricting action substantially alter their district.
for many years held their elections in November, in the process holding them on the same day as state elections on even-numbered years, but eventually abandoned that in favor of October elections. Anchorage switched from an early October election day to one in early April around 1992.
Lawsuits launched by Joe Vogler
and Jim Sykes
, among other lawsuits, led the Alaska Legislature
to eventually revamp and relax laws pertaining to party status and ballot access. The first instance of a minor party gaining recognition came in 1982, when the gubernatorial candidacy of Dick Randolph
under the Libertarian Party
was successful enough to meet the existing party recognition threshold.
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
has a gubernatorial election
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
every four years. Members of the state's United States congressional
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
delegation
United States congressional delegations from Alaska
These are tables of congressional delegations from Alaska to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives.-United States Senate:...
run for election or re-election at the times set out in the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
. Primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
s assist in choosing political parties' nominees for various positions. On a regional basis (see list of boroughs and census areas in Alaska), elections also cover municipal issues. In addition, a special election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
can occur at any time.
Presidential elections
Alaskans have voted in United States presidential electionUnited States presidential election
Elections for President and Vice President of the United States are indirect elections in which voters cast ballots for a slate of electors of the U.S. Electoral College, who in turn directly elect the President and Vice President...
s since 1960.
- United States presidential election in Alaska, 2008United States presidential election in Alaska, 2008The 2008 United States presidential election in Alaska took place on November 4, 2008 throughout all 50 states and D.C., which was part of the 2008 United States presidential election. Voters chose 3 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for President and Vice...
- Alaska Democratic caucuses, 2008Alaska Democratic caucuses, 2008The Alaska Democratic Caucuses took place Super Tuesday, February 5, 2008. This was the first time that Democrats in Alaska participated in Super Tuesday, and the large turnout forced at least one caucusing site to delay closing its doors far beyond the 6 p.m. deadline. The state had a total of 13...
- Alaska Republican caucuses, 2008Alaska Republican caucuses, 2008The Alaska Republican caucuses, 2008, was held on February 5 and has a total of 26 delegates at stake. Mitt Romney won the state and, as the winner in Alaska's congressional district, was awarded all of that district's delegates. All results are from the presidential preference poll held at the...
- Alaska Democratic caucuses, 2008
- United States presidential election in Alaska, 2004United States presidential election in Alaska, 2004The 2004 United States presidential election in Alaska took place on November 2, 2004 throughout all 50 states and D.C., which was part of the 2004 presidential election. Voters chose 3 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for President and Vice President.Alaska was won...
- United States presidential election in Alaska, 2000United States presidential election in Alaska, 2000The 2000 United States presidential election in Alaska took place on November 7, 2000 throughout all 50 states and D.C., which was part of the 2000 United States presidential election. Voters chose 3 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for President and Vice...
- United States presidential election in Alaska, 1996
- United States presidential election in Alaska, 1992
- United States presidential election in Alaska, 1988
- United States presidential election in Alaska, 1984
- United States presidential election in Alaska, 1980
- United States presidential election in Alaska, 1976
- United States presidential election in Alaska, 1972
- United States presidential election in Alaska, 1968
- United States presidential election in Alaska, 1964
- United States presidential election in Alaska, 1960
With the exception of the candidacy of Barry Goldwater
Barry Goldwater
Barry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. An articulate and charismatic figure during the first half of the 1960s, he was known as "Mr...
, the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
has carried Alaska in every presidential election.
United States congressional delegation elections
United States SenateUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
elections
Alaska has a Class II Senator (currently Mark BegichMark Begich
Mark Peter Begich is the junior United States Senator from Alaska and a member of the Democratic Party. A former mayor of Anchorage, he served on the Anchorage Assembly for almost ten years prior to being elected mayor in 2003...
) and a Class III Senator (currently Lisa Murkowski
Lisa Murkowski
Lisa Ann Murkowski is the senior U.S. Senator from the State of Alaska and a member of the Republican Party. She was appointed to the Senate in 2002 by her father, Governor Frank Murkowski. After losing a Republican primary in 2010, she became the second person ever to win a U.S...
). Alaska first elected Senators in
1956 under the "Alaska-Tennessee Plan." They had no vote in the Senate, but were sent to represent Alaska as if they were, to lobby for statehood, and to assume the office of senator should the situation arise. Alaska's first voting senators were elected in the 1958 election; it was a special election due to the former territory's pending admission as a state.
Class II Senate elections
- United States Senate election in Alaska, 2008United States Senate election in Alaska, 2008The 2008 United States Senate election in Alaska was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Ted Stevens ran for re-election. It was one of the ten Senate races that U.S. Senator John Ensign of Nevada, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, predicted as...
- United States Senate election in Alaska, 2002United States Senate election in Alaska, 2002The 2002 United States Senate election in Alaska was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Ted Stevens won re-election to a seventh term.-Republican:*Ted Stevens, incumbent U.S...
- United States Senate election in Alaska, 1996United States Senate election in Alaska, 1996The 1996 United States Senate election in Alaska was held on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Ted Stevens won re-election to a sixth term.-Results:...
- United States Senate election in Alaska, 1990United States Senate election in Alaska, 1990The 1990 United States Senate election in Alaska was held on November 6, 1990. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Ted Stevens won re-election to a fifth term.-Results:...
- United States Senate election in Alaska, 1984United States Senate election in Alaska, 1984The 1990 United States Senate election in Alaska was held on November 6, 1984. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Ted Stevens won re-election to a fourth term.-Results:...
- United States Senate election in Alaska, 1978
- United States Senate election in Alaska, 1972
- United States Senate election in Alaska, 1966
- United States Senate election in Alaska, 1960
Class III Senate elections
- United States Senate election in Alaska, 2010United States Senate election in Alaska, 2010The 2010 United States Senate election in Alaska took place on November 2, 2010, alongside 33 other U.S. Senate elections in other states, as well as elections in all states for Representatives to the U.S. House, and various state and local offices....
- United States Senate election in Alaska, 2004United States Senate election in Alaska, 2004The 2004 United States Senate election in Alaska took place on November 2, 2004 alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives, various state and local elections, and the presidential election of that year....
- United States Senate election in Alaska, 1998United States Senate election in Alaska, 1998The 1998 United States Senate election in Alaska was held on November 3, 1998. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski won re-election to a fourth term.-Results:...
- United States Senate election in Alaska, 1992United States Senate election in Alaska, 1992The 1998 United States Senate election in Alaska was held on November 3, 1998. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski won re-election to a third term.-Results:- External links :...
- United States Senate election in Alaska, 1986United States Senate election in Alaska, 1986The 1986 United States Senate election in Alaska was held on November 3, 1986. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski won re-election to a second term.-Results:...
- United States Senate election in Alaska, 1980United States Senate election in Alaska, 1980The 1980 United States Senate election in Alaska was held on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Mike Gravel had earlier lost his party's primary to Clark Gruening, and Gruening lost the general election to Republican Party member Frank Murkowski.- Candidates :*Michael J...
- United States Senate election in Alaska, 1974
- United States Senate election in Alaska, 1968
- United States Senate election in Alaska, 1962
United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
elections
Alaska has had a single congressional districtAlaska's At-large congressional district
Alaska's At-large congressional district comprises the entire state of Alaska. This congressional district has the largest land area and lowest population density of any district in the United States...
in the United States House of Representatives since statehood was granted in 1959.
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2008
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2006
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2004
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2002
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2000
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1998
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1996
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1994
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1992
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1990
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1988
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1986
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1984
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1982
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1980
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1978
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1976
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1974
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1972
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1970
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1968
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1966
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1964
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1962
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1960
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1958
Gubernatorial elections
- Alaska gubernatorial election, 2006Alaska gubernatorial election, 2006The 2006 Alaska gubernatorial general election took place on November 7, 2006. The former mayor of Wasilla, Sarah Palin, was elected governor.-Republican primary:...
- Alaska gubernatorial election, 2002Alaska gubernatorial election, 2002The 2002 Alaska gubernatorial election took place on 5 November 2002 for the post of Governor of Alaska. Republican US Senator Frank Murkowski defeated Democratic Lieutenant Governor Fran Ulmer. Murkowski became the first Republican elected governor of Alaska since Jay Hammond in...
- Alaska gubernatorial election, 1998Alaska gubernatorial election, 1998The 1998 Alaska gubernatorial general election took place on November 3, 1998. The election resulted in a landslide for the Democratic incumbent, Tony Knowles, who had won the 1994 gubernatorial election by only 536 votes. Knowles was the first incumbent governor to attain re-election since 1978.-...
- Alaska gubernatorial election, 1994Alaska gubernatorial election, 1994The 1994 Alaska gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1994 for the post of Governor of Alaska. Democratic candidate Tony Knowles narrowly defeated Republican candidate Jim Campbell and Lieutenant Governor Jack Coghill of the Alaskan Independence Party...
Alaska LegislatureAlaska LegislatureThe Alaska Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is a bicameral institution, consisting of the lower Alaska House of Representatives, with 40 members, and the upper house Alaska Senate, with 20 members...
elections
Alaska SenatorsAlaska Senate
The Alaska Senate is the upper house in the Alaska Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. The Senate consists of twenty members, each of whom represents an equal amount of districts with populations of about 31,347 people . Senators serve four-year terms, without term...
have terms of four years; half of them are elected every two years. Alaska Representatives
Alaska House of Representatives
The Alaska House of Representatives is the lower house in the Alaska Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. The House is composed of 40 members, each of whom represents a district of about 15,673 people . Members serve two-year terms without term limits...
have terms of two years; all of them are elected every two years. The state's redistricting process allows the power to shorten the terms of state senators should a redistricting action substantially alter their district.
- Alaska state elections, 2006Alaska state elections, 2006On November 7, 2006, the state of Alaska held its general election. On the ballot were races for U.S Representative, Governor and Lieutenant Governor, 10 of 20 seats in the Alaska Senate, all 40 seats in the Alaska House of Representatives, 2 ballot measures, plus retention elections for 18 judges...
- Alaska state elections, 2004
- Alaska state elections, 2002
- Alaska state elections, 2000
- Alaska state elections, 1998
- Alaska state elections, 1996
- Alaska state elections, 1994
Municipal elections
Virtually all of the state's municipalities hold their general elections in early October, with the notable exception of Anchorage. North PoleNorth Pole, Alaska
North Pole is a small city in the Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, United States. It is part of the Fairbanks, Alaska metropolitan statistical area. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated its population as of July 1, 2009 at 2,226. The name "North Pole" is often applied to the entire area covered...
for many years held their elections in November, in the process holding them on the same day as state elections on even-numbered years, but eventually abandoned that in favor of October elections. Anchorage switched from an early October election day to one in early April around 1992.
Political parties
There are four qualified political parties.- Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
(see also Alaska Democratic PartyAlaska Democratic Party-Introduction:The Alaska Democratic Party is the primary Democratic Party political organization in the state of Alaska, headquartered in Anchorage....
) - Libertarian PartyLibertarian Party (United States)The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
- Republican PartyRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
(see also Alaska Republican Party) - Alaskan Independence PartyAlaskan Independence PartyThe Alaskan Independence Party is a political party in the U.S. state of Alaska that advocates an in-state referendum which includes the option of Alaska becoming an independent country...
Lawsuits launched by Joe Vogler
Joe Vogler
Joseph E. "Joe" Vogler was the founder of the Alaskan Independence Party, and either its chair or gubernatorial nominee for most of its first two decades of existence...
and Jim Sykes
Jim Sykes
James L. "Jim" Sykes is a radio journalist and producer, and Green Party politician, in the U.S. state of Alaska. The founder of the Green Party of Alaska, Sykes initiated a lawsuit, Sykes v. Alaska, relying heavily upon case law established in the earlier ballot access lawsuits of Joe Vogler...
, among other lawsuits, led the Alaska Legislature
Alaska Legislature
The Alaska Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is a bicameral institution, consisting of the lower Alaska House of Representatives, with 40 members, and the upper house Alaska Senate, with 20 members...
to eventually revamp and relax laws pertaining to party status and ballot access. The first instance of a minor party gaining recognition came in 1982, when the gubernatorial candidacy of Dick Randolph
Dick Randolph
Richard L. "Dick" Randolph is a longtime insurance agency owner in Fairbanks, Alaska who is best known as the first person to be elected to partisan office under the banner of the Libertarian Party with his election to the Alaska House of Representatives in 1978. He was re-elected in 1980...
under the Libertarian Party
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
was successful enough to meet the existing party recognition threshold.
External links
- Alaska Division of Elections official website