United States Senate election in Alaska, 1980
Encyclopedia
The 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
.
that attempted to end the draft
during the Vietnam War
and for including the full text of the Pentagon Papers
in the Congressional Record
.
Although Gravel actively campaigned to be the Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States
in 1972, and was easily reelected to the Senate in 1974, he was nonetheless considered vulnerable in 1980 due to schisms created among Alaska Democrats stemming from his contentious 1968 primary defeat of former Senator Ernest Gruening
. In 1980 Gravel's main primary opponent was Gruening's grandson, Clark Gruening.
Gravel never established a firm party base in Alaska despite having served two full terms in the Senate. A group of Democrats, including future governor Steve Cowper
, campaigned against Gravel, with Gravel's actions with respect to 1978 and 1980 Alaskan lands bills a major issue. Coincidentally, Cowper had served two terms in the state house himself, during exactly the same time as had Gruening.
The sources of Gravel's campaign funds, some of which came from political action committee
s outside the state, also became an issue in the contest. Another factor may have been Alaska's blanket primary
system, which allows unlimited cross-over voting across parties and from its large unaffiliated electorate; Republicans believed Gruening would be an easier candidate to defeat in the general election. The blanket primary had first been used in the 1968 election, and was something Gravel himself was able to capitalize upon in his 1968 campaign. Gravel would later comment that by the time of his primary defeat, he had alienated "almost every constituency in Alaska."
Unlike Ernest Gruening after his primary defeat 12 years earlier, Gravel did not run as write-in independent candidate in the general election.
There were no other parties involved in the primary, as the State of Alaska did not recognize any other political parties until the Libertarian Party
first gained official recognition following the 1982 election.
After the loss of Gravel's seat, no Alaska Democrat would win a Congressional race again until Mark Begich
's narrow, protracted triumph in Alaska's 2008 Senate election
.
Democratic 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...
U.S. Senator Mike Gravel
Mike Gravel
Maurice Robert "Mike" Gravel is a former Democratic United States Senator from Alaska, who served two terms from 1969 to 1981, and a former candidate in the 2008 presidential election....
had earlier lost his party's primary to Clark Gruening
Clark Gruening
Clark S. Gruening is an attorney and Democratic Party politician from the U.S. state of Alaska. He is chiefly known as the second of three persons to defeat the incumbent holder of Alaska's Class 3 United States Senate seat in the primary election.Clark Gruening was born in San Francisco,...
, and Gruening lost the general election to 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...
member Frank Murkowski
Frank Murkowski
Francis Hughes Murkowski is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He was a United States Senator from Alaska from 1981 until 2002 and the eighth Governor of Alaska from 2002 until 2006.- Early life and career :...
.
Candidates
- Michael J. Beasley, perennial candidatePerennial candidateA perennial candidate is one who frequently runs for public office with a record of success that is infrequent, if existent at all. Perennial candidates are often either members of minority political parties or have political opinions that are not mainstream. They may run without any serious hope...
- Mike GravelMike GravelMaurice Robert "Mike" Gravel is a former Democratic United States Senator from Alaska, who served two terms from 1969 to 1981, and a former candidate in the 2008 presidential election....
, incumbentIncumbentThe incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... - Clark GrueningClark GrueningClark S. Gruening is an attorney and Democratic Party politician from the U.S. state of Alaska. He is chiefly known as the second of three persons to defeat the incumbent holder of Alaska's Class 3 United States Senate seat in the primary election.Clark Gruening was born in San Francisco,...
, attorney and former two-term member of the Alaska House of RepresentativesAlaska House of RepresentativesThe 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...
Campaign
First elected in 1968, by 1980 two-term Democratic incumbent Mike Gravel had become noted for a filibusterFilibuster
A filibuster is a type of parliamentary procedure. Specifically, it is the right of an individual to extend debate, allowing a lone member to delay or entirely prevent a vote on a given proposal...
that attempted to end the draft
Conscription in the United States
Conscription in the United States has been employed several times, usually during war but also during the nominal peace of the Cold War...
during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and for including the full text of the Pentagon Papers
Pentagon Papers
The Pentagon Papers, officially titled United States – Vietnam Relations, 1945–1967: A Study Prepared by the Department of Defense, is a United States Department of Defense history of the United States' political-military involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1967...
in the Congressional Record
Congressional Record
The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published by the United States Government Printing Office, and is issued daily when the United States Congress is in session. Indexes are issued approximately every two weeks...
.
Although Gravel actively campaigned to be the Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
in 1972, and was easily reelected to the Senate in 1974, he was nonetheless considered vulnerable in 1980 due to schisms created among Alaska Democrats stemming from his contentious 1968 primary defeat of former Senator Ernest Gruening
Ernest Gruening
Ernest Henry Gruening was an American journalist and Democrat who was the Governor of the Alaska Territory from 1939 until 1953, and a United States Senator from Alaska from 1959 until 1969.-Early life:...
. In 1980 Gravel's main primary opponent was Gruening's grandson, Clark Gruening.
Gravel never established a firm party base in Alaska despite having served two full terms in the Senate. A group of Democrats, including future governor Steve Cowper
Steve Cowper
Steve Cowper is an American Democratic politician who was the sixth Governor of Alaska of Alaska from 1986 to 1990. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and later served in the Alaska House of Representatives before being elected governor.Cowper served as Governor at...
, campaigned against Gravel, with Gravel's actions with respect to 1978 and 1980 Alaskan lands bills a major issue. Coincidentally, Cowper had served two terms in the state house himself, during exactly the same time as had Gruening.
The sources of Gravel's campaign funds, some of which came from political action committee
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
s outside the state, also became an issue in the contest. Another factor may have been Alaska's blanket primary
Blanket primary
The blanket primary is a system used for selecting political party candidates in a primary election in the USA. In a blanket primary, voters may pick one candidate for each office without regard to party lines; for instance, a voter might select a Democratic candidate for governor and a Republican...
system, which allows unlimited cross-over voting across parties and from its large unaffiliated electorate; Republicans believed Gruening would be an easier candidate to defeat in the general election. The blanket primary had first been used in the 1968 election, and was something Gravel himself was able to capitalize upon in his 1968 campaign. Gravel would later comment that by the time of his primary defeat, he had alienated "almost every constituency in Alaska."
Results
In the August 26, 1980, primary Gruening defeated Gravel by 11 percentage points.:| Name | Votes | Party % | Total % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gruening | 39,719 | 54.88 | 39.72 |
| Gravel | 31,504 | 43.53 | 31.50 |
| Beasley | 1,145 | 1.58 | 1.15 |
Unlike Ernest Gruening after his primary defeat 12 years earlier, Gravel did not run as write-in independent candidate in the general election.
Candidates
- Art Kennedy
- Dave Moe
- Frank H. Murkowski, president of Alaska National Bank of the North since 1971, previously a congressional candidate and Alaska's Commissioner of Economic DevelopmentAlaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic DevelopmentThe Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development is a department within the government of Alaska. The Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development mission statement is to: "Promoting a healthy economy and strong communities."-External links:*...
- Don Smith, at the time representing South Anchorage on the Anchorage AssemblyCity councilA city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
- Morrie ThompsonMorris ThompsonMorris Thompson was an Alaska Native leader, American businessman and political appointee working on matters related to Alaska Natives.-Early life and career:...
, businessman and former head of the Bureau of Indian AffairsBureau of Indian AffairsThe Bureau of Indian Affairs is an agency of the federal government of the United States within the US Department of the Interior. It is responsible for the administration and management of of land held in trust by the United States for Native Americans in the United States, Native American...
for Alaska - Donald R. "Don" WrightDon Wright (politician)Donald Rose "Don" Wright is an American politician and former president of the Alaska Federation of Natives, serving from 1970 to 1972 during the height of activity over passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Most of his notoriety in Alaskan politics has come as a perennial candidate...
, perennial candidatePerennial candidateA perennial candidate is one who frequently runs for public office with a record of success that is infrequent, if existent at all. Perennial candidates are often either members of minority political parties or have political opinions that are not mainstream. They may run without any serious hope...
and former president of the Alaska Federation of NativesAlaska Federation of NativesThe Alaska Federation of Natives is the largest statewide Native organization in Alaska. Its membership includes 178 villages , thirteen regional native corporations, and twelve regional nonprofit and tribal consortiums that contract and run federal and state programs...
Results
Primary results (set the same day as Democratic)| Name | Votes | Party % | Total % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murkowski | 16,292 | 58.96 | 16.29 |
| Kennedy | 5,527 | 20.00 | 5.53 |
| Thompson | 3,635 | 13.16 | 3.64 |
| Smith | 896 | 3.24 | 0.90 |
| Wright | 824 | 2.98 | 0.82 |
| Moe | 458 | 1.66 | 0.46 |
There were no other parties involved in the primary, as the State of Alaska did not recognize any other political parties until 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...
first gained official recognition following the 1982 election.
Results
Murkowski defeated Gruening by a nearly seven-point margin.- Frank Murkowski (R) - 84,159 (53.69%)
- Clark Gruening (D) - 72,007 (45.93%)
- Write-ins - 596 (0.38%)
After the loss of Gravel's seat, no Alaska Democrat would win a Congressional race again until Mark Begich
Mark 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...
's narrow, protracted triumph in Alaska's 2008 Senate election
United States Senate election in Alaska, 2008
The 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...
.