2006 Alaska gubernatorial election
The 2006 Alaska gubernatorial general election took place on November 7, 2006. The former mayor of Wasilla, Sarah Palin, was elected governor.
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![]() Election results by boroughs Palin: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Knowles: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Elections in Alaska |
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Republican primary
Incumbent Frank Murkowski (R), first elected governor in 2002, ran for reelection but was defeated in a landslide in the Republican primary by former Wasilla mayor Sarah Palin on August 22, 2006. Murkowski's approval rating at the time of the election was 19%. Murkowski also faced opposition from former state lawmaker and Fairbanks businessman John Binkley.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Sarah Palin | 51,443 | 50.59 | |
Republican | John Binkley | 30,349 | 29.84 | |
Republican | Frank Murkowski (incumbent) | 19,412 | 19.09 | |
Republican | Gerald Heikes | 280 | 0.28 | |
Republican | Merica Hlatcu | 211 | 0.21 | |
Total votes | 101,695 | 100.00 |
Democratic primary
Former two-term Governor Tony Knowles and state lawmaker Eric Croft competed for the Democratic ticket for governor. Knowles had a substantial lead over Croft, both at the polls and with fund raising.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tony Knowles | 37,316 | 74.63 | |
Democratic | Eric Croft | 11,952 | 23.90 | |
Democratic | Bruce Lemke | 732 | 1.46 | |
Total votes | 50,000 | 100.00 |
Alaskan Independence Party
- Don Wright – bush pilot, '02 gubernatorial nominee
Green Party
- David Massie
Libertarian Party
- Billy Toien – 2002 gubernatorial nominee
Independent
- Andrew Halcro – former Republican state representative, businessman
General election
Campaign
Republican candidate Sarah Palin, Democratic candidate Tony Knowles, and independent candidate Andrew Halcro faced each other in the general election. Anchorage businessman Andrew Halcro ran as an Independent in the race for governor. Halcro has served in the Alaska State legislature in the past, and is known as a fiscal hawk. Halcro collected about 4,000 signatures to be placed on the general election ballot without party affiliation. Despite Knowles' experience, Palin's charisma and conservatism was able to win.
Polling
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sarah Palin (R) |
Tony Knowles (D) |
---|---|---|---|
Rasmussen | November 3, 2006 | 45% | 44% |
Rasmussen | October 9, 2006 | 47% | 40% |
Field Research Corporation | October 5, 2006 | 49% | 37% |
Rasmussen | September 8, 2006 | 52% | 38% |
Rasmussen | August 3, 2006 | 51% | 38% |
Ivan Moore Research | June 7, 2006 | 39% | 43% |
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Sarah Palin | 114,697 | 48.33% | -7.6% | |
Democratic | Tony Knowles | 97,238 | 40.97% | +0.3% | |
Independent | Andrew Halcro | 22,443 | 9.46% | n/a | |
Alaskan Independence | Don Wright | 1,285 | 0.54% | -0.4% | |
Libertarian | Billy Toien | 682 | 0.29% | -0.2% | |
Green | David Massie | 593 | 0.25% | -1.0% | |
Write-in | 384 | 0.16% | +0.1% | ||
Plurality | 17,459 | 7.36% | |||
Turnout | 238,307 | 51.1% | |||
Republican hold | Swing | -7.6% |
References
- "STATE OF ALASKA - 2006 PRIMARY ELECTION AUGUST 22, 2006 OFFICIAL RESULTS". Archived from the original on March 4, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
- "PRIMARY ELECTION August 22, 2006 Primary Election Results". Archived from the original on November 27, 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
- Christiansen, Scott. Grooming the gov: Frank Murkowski seems to be in an endless battle with reporters. That may be just the way he likes it. Anchorage Press. June 22, 2005.
- Moore, Jason. Croft takes first step into governor's race. KTUU. June 16, 2005.
- State of Alaska Division of Elections results