Former Alaska Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich (D) has entered the race for governor after filing a letter of intent, the Alaska News Source reports.
Mary Peltola Would Be Strongest for Alaska Governor
Former Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK) holds a commanding lead in the 2026 election for governor of Alaska if she chooses to jump into the race, a new Data for Progress survey shows.
“Peltola had the highest favorability ratings of major Alaska politicians in the survey… She holds a net positive favorability of 9 points, and leads a crowded field of lesser-known and less popular Republican gubernatorial opponents by double-digit margins.”
Mary Peltola May Run for Governor of Alaska
Sources told the Cook Political Report that it’s likely that former Rep. Mary Peltola (D) runs for governor of Alaska.
GOP Candidate Accused of Sexual Harassment
“In a lawsuit filed Friday, a former executive assistant to Alaska gubernatorial candidate Charlie Pierce (R) said Pierce sexually harassed her when he was Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor,” the Anchorage Daily News reports.
Alaska Governor Accepts Trump’s Endorsement
Alaska’s Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) accepted the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, which came on the condition the governor does not, in turn, endorse Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) in her reelection bid, The Hill reports.
It was not clear if Dunleavy meant for his note to Trump to be public, but it was released with Trump’s statement.
Trump Offers Conditional Endorsement of Alaska Governor
Former President Trump “endorsed Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s (R) reelection bid, but only on the condition that Dunleavy doesn’t back Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) in 2022,” The Hill reports.
Said Trump: “Alaska needs Mike Dunleavy as Governor now more than ever. He has my Complete and Total Endorsement but, this endorsement is subject to his non-endorsement of Senator Lisa Murkowski who has been very bad for Alaska.”
He added: “In other words, if Mike endorses her, which is his prerogative, my endorsement of him is null and void, and of no further force or effect!”
Walker Will Run Again for Alaska Governor
Former Alaska Gov. Bill Walker (I) will run again for governor in 2022, the Anchorage Daily News reports.
Dunleavy Will Run Again for Alaska Governor
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) will run for re-election in 2022, the Anchorage Daily News reports.
Former independent Gov. Bill Walker (I) also said he’s giving “very serious consideration” to running next year.
Recall of Alaska Governor Headed Nowhere
“A group seeking Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s (R) ouster has yet to gather enough signatures to force a recall election, nearly two years after getting started and with just over a year before the 2022 primary,” the Associated Press reports.
Dead Heat for Alaska Governor
A new Alaska Survey Research poll shows Mike Dunleavy (R) and Mark Begich (D) deadlocked in the race for governor, 42% to 42%.
“A week and a half after he announced his withdrawal from the governor’s race, incumbent independent Gov. Bill Walker still holds a measure of support among voters. Just under 8 percent of Alaskans said they will vote for him.”
Walker Says He Dropped Out to Help Begich Win
Associated Press: “Walker, the only independent governor in the country, said Friday he could not win a three-way race and that Alaskans deserve a choice other than Dunleavy. There are a lot of things he and Begich don’t agree on, but Walker said Begich would be better for Alaska. Whether Begich can overtake the presumed front-runner remains to be seen with two-and-a-half weeks before the election.”
“The clincher for Walker’s decision to leave the race, it appears, was his lieutenant governor’s abrupt resignation days earlier over an inappropriate overture to a woman.”
Begich Will Stay In Alaska Governor’s Race
“A three-way race for governor of Alaska is underway as the Democratic candidate announced he’s sticking with the race Tuesday afternoon,” KTUU reports.
“Democrat Mark Begich held a press conference Tuesday to announce that he will stick with his campaign for governor. His announcement comes on the last day for candidates to withdraw their names from the November general election ballot.”
Anchorage Daily News: “Begich is facing off against incumbent Gov. Bill Walker, an independent, and former state Sen. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican. Some Democrats have said they’re concerned Begich and Walker will split the vote, resulting in a Dunleavy win. Walker is a Republican-turned-independent, who is running again this year with his Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott, a Democrat.”
Walker Will Run Again for Alaska Governor
Alaska Gov. Bill Walker and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott filed to run an independent campaign for re-election, ending months of speculation about what they were planning for November 2018, the Alaska Dispatch News reports.
“Walker is a longtime Republican and Mallott a longtime Democrat. But Walker dropped his party registration in 2014 so he could join his campaign with Mallott and receive assistance from the Alaska Democratic Party. Mallott had been the Democratic candidate for governor but agreed to take the No. 2 spot to accommodate Walker.”
Independent Candidate Wins in Alaska
Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell (R) “conceded the governor’s race to independent challenger Bill Walker, who has maintained a close lead in the vote count since election night,” the Alaska Dispatch News reports.
“Walker, who has been careful not to declare victory, has assembled a transition team that will meet next weekend in Anchorage to begin planning for a new administration.”
