2010 Alaska gubernatorial election

November 2, 2010
 
Nominee Sean Parnell Ethan Berkowitz
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Mead Treadwell Diane E. Benson
Popular vote 151,318 96,519
Percentage 59.1% 37.7%

Parnell:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Berkowitz:      40–50%      50–60%

Governor before election

Sean Parnell
Republican

Elected Governor

Sean Parnell
Republican

The 2010 Alaska gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010. Former Governor Sarah Palin did not run, having resigned in July 2009.[1] Incumbent Governor Sean Parnell, who as lieutenant governor succeeded Palin following her resignation, announced that he would seek a full term.[2]

Following the primary election on Tuesday, August 24, 2010, the Democratic ticket consists of Ethan Berkowitz and Diane E. Benson running against Republican Parnell and his running mate, Mead Treadwell.[3] In the general election Parnell/Treadwell defeated Berkowitz/Benson by a wide margin.[4]

Parnell received over 59% of the vote, which is the highest percentage for any Alaska gubernatorial candidate in history. This is the only election in Alaskan history where any party won three consecutive gubernatorial elections.

Republican primary

Certified for the ballot

Declined

Withdrew

  • John Harris, former Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives, announced in January 2010 that he would be seeking re-election to his House seat instead[8]

Polling

Poll source Dates administered Sean
Parnell
Ralph
Samuels
Bill
Walker
Undecided
Hellenthal & Associates July 22–25, 2010 60% 13% 15% 12%
Basswood Research February 27–28, 2010 69% 9% 4% 21%

Results

Republican primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sean Parnell (incumbent) 54,125 49.49
Republican Bill Walker 35,734 33.95
Republican Ralph Samuels 15,376 14.05
Republican Sam Little 1,661 1.54
Republican Merica Hlatcu 626 0.56
Republican Gerald L. Heikes 460 0.40
Total votes 107,982 100

Alaskan Independence-Democratic-Libertarian primary

Candidates

[5]

Alaskan Independence Party

  • Don Wright, bush pilot

Democratic Party

Libertarian Party

  • William Toien

Results

ADL primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ethan Berkowitz 22,607 48.69
Democratic Hollis French 18,018 38.81
Independence Don Wright 4,104 8.84
Libertarian William Toien 1,698 3.66
Total votes 46,427 100

General election

Candidates

  • Ethan Berkowitz (D)
    • Berkowitz's running mate is college professor Diane Benson, who ran for Governor in 1998 on the Green Party ticket.
  • Sean Parnell (R)
  • William Toien (L)
    • Toien's running mate is Jeffrey Brown.
  • Don Wright (AIP)
    • Wright's running mate is Michigan Militia founder Norm Olson.[10]

Lieutenant Governor Candidates

In Alaska, the lieutenant governor runs separately from the governor in the primary election. The respective party nominees for each office are then joined together as a party ticket in the general election. Occasionally, a minor party will nominate a candidate for governor, but without a running mate.

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
Cook Political Report[11] Safe R October 14, 2010
Rothenberg[12] Safe R October 28, 2010
RealClearPolitics[13] Likely R November 1, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball[14] Safe R October 28, 2010
CQ Politics[15] Likely R October 28, 2010

Polling

Poll source Dates administered Sean
Parnell (R)
Ethan
Berkowitz (D)
CNN/Time Magazine October 15–19, 2010 62% 36%
Rasmussen Reports October 13, 2010 52% 39%
CNN/Time Magazine September 24–28, 2010 57% 38%
Rasmussen Reports September 19, 2010 54% 34%
Rasmussen Reports August 31, 2010 53% 43%
Public Policy Polling August 27–28, 2010 55% 37%
Basswood Research August 28–29, 2010 54% 40%
Rasmussen Reports July 15, 2010 53% 34%
Rasmussen Reports May 6, 2010 58% 30%

Fundraising

Campaign activity disclosure reports are filed with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. For the period ending February 1, 2010, the candidates and others subject to filing have reported the following to APOC:

Candidate Cash on hand Candidate's
own money
Total income Total expenses Total debts Surplus/
(deficit)
Berkowitz $0 $10,295.77 $128,178.52 $19,500.20 $0 $108,678.32
Parnell $0 $0 $214,696.77 $93,842.38 $2,025.00 $123,150.38

Results

[16]

2010 Alaska gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sean Parnell (incumbent) 151,318 59.06 +10.7
Democratic Ethan Berkowitz 96,519 37.67 -3.3
Independence Don Wright 4,775 1.86 +1.3
Libertarian Billy Toien 2,682 1.05 +0.7
Write-in votes 898 0.35 +0.2
Majority 54,799 21.39
Turnout 256,192 52.3
Republican hold Swing +14.26

Boroughs and census areas that flipped from Democratic to Republican

References

  1. 1 2 Jonathan Martin. "Palin announces resignation". Politico.
  2. "Is Palin retiring, or running for president in 2012? - CTV News". Ctv.ca. July 4, 2009. Archived from the original on July 6, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  3. "Treadwell, Benson win lieutenant governor races". Archived from the original on August 28, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  4. Election Night 2010: Incumbents Parnell and Young Re-Elected, Possibly Murkowski, APRN 3-10-2010
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Unofficial Candidate List 2010 Primary Election". Archived from the original on June 11, 2010. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  6. "Ted Stevens should run against Palin, Alaska Republican says".
  7. "Stevens files candidacy for 2014 election". ADN.com. April 8, 2009. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  8. jjAK49 @ 01.23.2010 2:14 AM (January 23, 2010). "Harris pulls out of governor's race". Alaskadispatch.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. 1 2 "Alaska Primary Results, 2010".
  10. "Alaska Politics Blog : No room on the Alaskan Independence Party ticket for Walker | adn.com". Archived from the original on September 8, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2010.
  11. "2010 Governors Race Ratings". Cook Political Report. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  12. "Governor Ratings". Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  13. "2010 Governor Races". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  14. "THE CRYSTAL BALL'S FINAL CALLS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  15. "Race Ratings Chart: Governor". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 5, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  16. "GEMS ELECTION RESULTS". Archived from the original on November 21, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
Official campaign sites (archived)
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