Alaska State Senate elections, 2020
| 2020 Alaska Senate Elections | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General | November 3, 2020 |
| Primary | August 18, 2020 |
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Elections for the office of Alaska State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for August 18, 2020. The filing deadline was June 1, 2020.
Alaska Republicans maintained but did not expand their majority in the 2020 state Senate elections. Ten of the 20 seats in the chamber were up for election in 2020. Heading into the election, Republicans had a 13-7 majority, including a 7-3 majority among the seats up. Republicans won seven of the seats up to Democrats' three, meaning the partisan balance of the chamber did not change.
The Alaska State Senate was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. A total of 10 of 20 Alaska Senate seats were up for election in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections.
Through Republicans hold 13 of the 20 seats in the Senate, disagreements over leadership and other issues led some to suggest that a bipartisan coalition, similar to that formed in the Alaska House of Representatives in 2018, could have formed. Click here to learn more.
Alaska's 2020 state legislative elections affected partisan control of redistricting following the 2020 census. In Alaska, a commission is responsible for drawing district lines. Two commissioners are appointed by the governor, one by the state Senate majority leader, one by the state House majority leader, and one by the chief justice of the Alaska Supreme Court.
Aftermath of elections
Control of chamber
After the 2020 general election, Republicans did not immediately agree on Senate leadership and remained divided on issues such as the state budget, the Alaska Permanent Fund, and Senate rules. Such division led to speculation that a bi-partisan coalition could be formed. Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, said that a coalition was possible, but that "there’s more of them than there are of us, so they’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to their choice." Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, said that Republican senators were "working on a family unit that recognizes and appreciates the strengths and differences of its individual members and trying to build a Senate majority caucus that each member is proud to be a member of."[1]
Senate Republicans ultimately established a majority on January 19, 2021, electing Sen. Peter Micciche (R) the new Senate president, Sen. Shelley Hughes (R) the Senate majority leader, and Sen. Mia Costello (R) as the Senate whip.[2]
Timeline
The following timeline includes important events related to control of the Alaska State Senate in 2021.
- January 19, 2021: Alaska Senate Republicans solidified their control of the Senate in a closed-door meeting on Tuesday, overcoming disagreements on a variety of policy issues including the Permanent Fund dividend and state budget. Republicans named Sen. Peter Micciche (R) the new Senate president, Sen. Shelley Hughes (R) the Senate majority leader, and Sen. Mia Costello (R) as the Senate whip.[3]
- November 13, 2020: Alaska's 13 Republican senators and senators-elect convened in Anchorage to choose a new Senate president, but left the meeting without coming to a consensus. Eleven votes were necessary to name a new Senate leader and control the legislative process, but Republican senators were divided on budget issues, the Alaska Permanent Fund, and Senate rules. If Republicans are unable to construct a unified governing faction, some may join with the seven Democratic senators to form a coalition akin to the one created in the Alaska House of Representatives. Sen. Peter Micciche said that a coalition is unlikely and that the meeting is part of a reconciliation process meant to unite Republicans in the Senate.
- November 12, 2020: Tom Begich (D) said that, in a meeting on November 12th, Senate Democrats agreed that protecting education funding, the state program that subsidizes rural electricity prices, and the state ferry system would be a requisite of any majority coalition with Republicans.[4]
- November 3, 2020: A total of 10 of 20 Alaska Senate seats were up for election in 2020, and heading into the election, there were 13 Republicans and 7 Democrats. Of the 10 seats up for election, Republicans won seven seats and Democrats won three seats.
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
Alaska modified its absentee/mail-in voting procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:
- Absentee/mail-in voting: The witness requirement was suspended.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Party control
| Alaska State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2020 | After November 4, 2020 | |
| Democratic Party | 7 | 7 | |
| Republican Party | 13 | 13 | |
| Total | 20 | 20 | |
Candidates
State Senate District B
See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Alaska State Senate District B
Robert Myers Jr. defeated Marna Sanford and Evan Eads (Unofficially withdrew) in the general election for Alaska State Senate District B on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Robert Myers Jr. (R)  | 57.1 | 10,213 |
 | Marna Sanford (Independent) | 37.0 | 6,612 | |
 | Evan Eads (Independent) (Unofficially withdrew) | 5.5 | 987 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 67 | ||
| Total votes: 17,879 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Alaska State Senate District B
Robert Myers Jr. defeated incumbent John B. Coghill in the Republican primary for Alaska State Senate District B on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Robert Myers Jr. | 50.2 | 1,739 |
 | John B. Coghill | 49.8 | 1,725 | |
| Total votes: 3,464 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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State Senate District D
See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Alaska State Senate District D
Incumbent David S. Wilson defeated James Mayfield, Thomas Lamb, and Stephen Wright in the general election for Alaska State Senate District D on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | David S. Wilson (R) | 69.2 | 12,631 |
 | James Mayfield (Nonpartisan) | 14.4 | 2,622 | |
 | Thomas Lamb (Nonpartisan) | 14.3 | 2,616 | |
 | Stephen Wright (R) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.1 | 386 | ||
| Total votes: 18,255 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Alaska State Senate District D
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Alaska State Senate District D on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | David S. Wilson | 33.9 | 1,736 |
| Stephen Wright | 26.0 | 1,330 | |
| Loy Thurman | 22.2 | 1,135 | |
| Bernadette Rupright | 9.2 | 470 | |
| Chandra McCain-Finch | 6.7 | 342 | |
 | Huhnkie Lee | 2.1 | 110 | |
| Total votes: 5,123 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary election
Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary for Alaska State Senate District D
Thomas Lamb advanced from the Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary for Alaska State Senate District D on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Thomas Lamb | 100.0 | 1,329 |
| Total votes: 1,329 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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State Senate District F
See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Alaska State Senate District F
Incumbent Shelley Hughes defeated Jim Cooper and Gavin Christiansen (Unofficially withdrew) in the general election for Alaska State Senate District F on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Shelley Hughes (R) | 71.3 | 14,775 |
| Jim Cooper (Independent) | 23.7 | 4,908 | |
| Gavin Christiansen (L) (Unofficially withdrew) | 4.8 | 999 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 29 | ||
| Total votes: 20,711 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Stephany Jeffers (Independent)
- Allan Riordan-Randall (Independent)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Alaska State Senate District F
Incumbent Shelley Hughes advanced from the Republican primary for Alaska State Senate District F on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Shelley Hughes | 100.0 | 4,759 |
| Total votes: 4,759 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary election
Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary for Alaska State Senate District F
Stephany Jeffers advanced from the Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary for Alaska State Senate District F on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Stephany Jeffers | 100.0 | 1,992 |
| Total votes: 1,992 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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State Senate District H
See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Alaska State Senate District H
Incumbent Bill Wielechowski defeated Madeleine Gaiser in the general election for Alaska State Senate District H on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Bill Wielechowski (D) | 57.7 | 7,304 |
| Madeleine Gaiser (R) | 42.1 | 5,330 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 19 | ||
| Total votes: 12,653 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Alaska State Senate District H
Madeleine Gaiser advanced from the Republican primary for Alaska State Senate District H on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Madeleine Gaiser | 100.0 | 1,874 |
| Total votes: 1,874 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary election
Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary for Alaska State Senate District H
Incumbent Bill Wielechowski advanced from the Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary for Alaska State Senate District H on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Bill Wielechowski | 100.0 | 2,218 |
| Total votes: 2,218 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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State Senate District J
See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Alaska State Senate District J
Incumbent Tom Begich won election in the general election for Alaska State Senate District J on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Tom Begich (D) | 92.6 | 9,305 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 7.4 | 739 | ||
| Total votes: 10,044 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary election
Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary for Alaska State Senate District J
Incumbent Tom Begich advanced from the Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary for Alaska State Senate District J on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tom Begich | 100.0 | 3,057 |
| Total votes: 3,057 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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State Senate District L
See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Alaska State Senate District L
Incumbent Natasha A. Von Imhof defeated Roselynn Cacy and Stephen Duplantis in the general election for Alaska State Senate District L on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Natasha A. Von Imhof (R) | 59.7 | 10,222 |
 | Roselynn Cacy (D) | 39.3 | 6,725 | |
| Stephen Duplantis (R) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.0 | 170 | ||
| Total votes: 17,117 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jeff Landfield (Independent)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Alaska State Senate District L
Incumbent Natasha A. Von Imhof defeated Stephen Duplantis in the Republican primary for Alaska State Senate District L on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Natasha A. Von Imhof | 53.5 | 2,165 |
| Stephen Duplantis | 46.5 | 1,884 | |
| Total votes: 4,049 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary election
Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary for Alaska State Senate District L
Roselynn Cacy advanced from the Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary for Alaska State Senate District L on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Roselynn Cacy | 100.0 | 2,856 |
| Total votes: 2,856 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
State Senate District N
See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Alaska State Senate District N
Roger Holland defeated Carl Johnson, Carolyn Clift, and Lynette Hinz in the general election for Alaska State Senate District N on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Roger Holland (R) | 49.7 | 10,512 |
 | Carl Johnson (D) | 45.6 | 9,650 | |
 | Carolyn Clift (Independent) | 4.6 | 965 | |
| Lynette Hinz (D) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 40 | ||
| Total votes: 21,167 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Alaska State Senate District N
Roger Holland defeated incumbent Catherine Giessel in the Republican primary for Alaska State Senate District N on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Roger Holland | 64.2 | 3,687 |
 | Catherine Giessel | 35.8 | 2,055 | |
| Total votes: 5,742 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary election
Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary for Alaska State Senate District N
Carl Johnson defeated Lynette Hinz in the Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary for Alaska State Senate District N on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Carl Johnson | 54.1 | 2,247 |
| Lynette Hinz | 45.9 | 1,907 | |
| Total votes: 4,154 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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State Senate District P
See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Alaska State Senate District P
Incumbent Gary Stevens defeated Greg Madden in the general election for Alaska State Senate District P on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Gary Stevens (R) | 66.6 | 12,895 |
| Greg Madden (Alaskan Independence Party) | 33.1 | 6,404 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 75 | ||
| Total votes: 19,374 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Alaska State Senate District P
Incumbent Gary Stevens defeated John Cox in the Republican primary for Alaska State Senate District P on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Gary Stevens | 53.1 | 2,105 |
 | John Cox | 46.9 | 1,861 | |
| Total votes: 3,966 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary election
Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary for Alaska State Senate District P
Greg Madden advanced from the Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary for Alaska State Senate District P on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Greg Madden | 100.0 | 2,284 |
| Total votes: 2,284 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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State Senate District R
See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Alaska State Senate District R
Incumbent Bert Stedman defeated Michael Sheldon in the general election for Alaska State Senate District R on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Bert Stedman (R) | 93.7 | 14,581 |
 | Michael Sheldon (R) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 6.3 | 984 | ||
| Total votes: 15,565 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Alaska State Senate District R
Incumbent Bert Stedman defeated Michael Sheldon in the Republican primary for Alaska State Senate District R on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Bert Stedman | 63.8 | 1,931 |
| Michael Sheldon | 36.2 | 1,096 | |
| Total votes: 3,027 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
State Senate District T
See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Alaska State Senate District T
Incumbent Donald Olson defeated Thomas Baker and Calvin Moto II in the general election for Alaska State Senate District T on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Donald Olson (D) | 65.3 | 6,604 |
 | Thomas Baker (R) | 33.8 | 3,422 | |
 | Calvin Moto II (R) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.9 | 89 | ||
| Total votes: 10,115 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Alaska State Senate District T
Thomas Baker defeated Calvin Moto II in the Republican primary for Alaska State Senate District T on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Thomas Baker | 60.6 | 674 |
| Calvin Moto II | 39.4 | 438 | |
| Total votes: 1,112 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary election
Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary for Alaska State Senate District T
Incumbent Donald Olson advanced from the Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary for Alaska State Senate District T on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Donald Olson | 100.0 | 2,847 |
| Total votes: 2,847 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Incumbents who were not re-elected
Incumbents defeated in the general election
No incumbents lost in the Nov. 3 general election.
Incumbents defeated in primary elections
Two incumbents lost in the Aug. 18 primaries. Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| John B. Coghill |  Republican |
Senate District B |
| Catherine A. Giessel | Republican |
Senate District N |
Retiring incumbents
Every incumbent whose office was up for election in 2020 filed to run.
The table below shows the number of open seats in each election held between 2010 and 2020.
| Open Seats in Alaska State Senate elections: 2010 - 2020 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total seats | Open seats | Seats with incumbents running for re-election |
| 2020 | 10 | 0 (0 percent) | 10 (100 percent) |
| 2018 | 10 | 4 (40 percent) | 6 (60 percent) |
| 2016 | 10 | 4 (40 percent) | 6 (60 percent) |
| 2014 | 10 | 6 (60 percent) | 4 (40 percent) |
| 2012 | 20 | 0 (0 percent) | 20 (100 percent) |
| 2010 | 10 | 1 (10 percent) | 9 (90 percent) |
Process to become a candidate
See statutes: Title 15.25 of the Alaska Election Law
A person who seeks to become a candidate for office in a primary election must file a declaration of candidacy. This declaration must be made under oath before an authorized officer and must be filed with the Alaska Division of Elections. The form must be delivered in person or by mail at or before 5:00 p.m. on June 1 of the year in which the general election is taking place.[5][6]
At the time of filing a declaration of candidacy, a candidate must pay a nonrefundable filing fee to the Alaska Division of Elections. For the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, United States Senator, and United States Representative, the filing fee is $100. The filing fee for state legislative candidates is $30. Candidates must also submit a financial disclosure form (for further information on campaign finance requirements, see this article).[7]
Write-in candidates
A write-in candidate must file a declaration of intent with the Alaska Division of Elections. The form must be filed no later than five days prior to the general election. A write-in candidate must also file a financial disclosure statement alongside the declaration of intent. If a write-in candidate is running for governor, the candidate must file a joint declaration of intent with a candidate for lieutenant governor.[8][8]
2020 ballot access requirements
The table below details filing requirements for Alaska State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.
| Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber name | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| Alaska State Senate | Qualified party | N/A | $30.00 | 6/1/2020 | Source |
| Alaska State Senate | Unaffiliated | 1% of the number of voters in the district who cast ballots in the last general election | N/A | 8/18/2020 | Source |
Qualifications
Article II, Section 2 of the Alaska Constitution states: A member of the legislature shall be a qualified voter who has been a resident of Alaska for at least three years and of the district from which elected for at least one year, immediately preceding his filing for office. A senator shall be at least twenty-five years of age.
Salaries and per diem
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[9] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $84,000/year | $307/day |
When sworn in
Alaska legislators assume office on the third Tuesday of January following their election.[10][11]
Alaska political history
Trifectas
A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.
Alaska Party Control: 1992-2024
No Democratic trifectas • Six years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | I | I | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | I | I | I | I | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Senate | S | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | S | S |
| House | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | S | S | S | S | S | S |
Presidential politics in Alaska
2016 Presidential election results
| U.S. presidential election, Alaska, 2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine | 36.6% | 116,454 | 0 | |
| Republican |  Donald Trump/Mike Pence |
51.3% | 163,387 | 3 | |
| Libertarian | Gary Johnson/Bill Weld | 5.9% | 18,725 | 0 | |
| Green | Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka | 1.8% | 5,735 | 0 | |
| Constitution | Darrell Lane Castle/Scott Bradley | 1.2% | 3,866 | 0 | |
| Non-affiliated | Rocky De La Fuente/Michael Steinberg | 0.4% | 1,240 | 0 | |
| - | Write-in votes | 2.9% | 9,201 | 0 | |
| Total Votes | 318,608 | 3 | |||
| Election results via: Alaska Division of Elections | |||||
Voter information
How the primary works
Alaska uses a top-four primary for congressional and state-level offices. Under Alaska's top-four primary system, all candidates for a given office run in a single primary election. The top four vote-getters, regardless of partisan affiliation, then advance to the general election.[12][13]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
In Alaska, polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time. Alaska is divided between the Alaska time zone and the Hawaii-Aleutian time zone. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[14][15]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To register to vote in Alaska, each applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Alaska, and at least 18 years of age or within 90 days of their 18th birthday. An individual convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude may not register to vote until their voting rights have been restored. If registered to vote in another state, applicants must be willing to cancel that registration in order to vote in Alaska. To vote in Alaska, registered voters must be at least 18 years old and have been a resident of the state and election district for at least 30 days.[16]
Prospective voters can register online, with a paper form, or in person at a Division of Elections Office or a voter registration agency.[17] The deadline to register or make changes to a registration is 30 days before an election.[18]
If submitting an application form by mail, fax, or email, the applicant must provide one of the following forms of identification either with his or her application or when voting for the first time:[18]
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Automatic registration
Alaska automatically registers eligible individuals to vote when they apply for a Permanent Fund Dividend, unless they opt out.[20]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Alaska has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
Alaska allows same-day voter registration in presidential election years, but voters who do so can vote only for the offices of president and vice president.[21]
Residency requirements
Alaska law requires 30 days of residency in the state and election district before a person may vote.[22]
According to the Division of Elections' website, "you are considered an Alaska resident if you reside in the state and intend to remain a resident or, if you temporarily leave the state, you have intention to return (Active military members, spouses or dependents are exempt from the intent to return requirement)."[16]
Verification of citizenship
Alaska does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[23] As of November 2024, five states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, and New Hampshire — had passed laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration. However, only two of those states' laws were in effect, in Arizona and New Hampshire. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allowed noncitizens to vote in some local elections as of November 2024. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The site My Voter Information, run by the Alaska Department of Elections, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirements
Alaska requires voters to present non-photo identification while voting.[24][25]
The following were accepted forms of identification as of July 2024. Click here for the Alaska Division of Elections' page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
- Voter ID card
- Driver’s license
- State ID
- Other photo ID
- Passport
- Hunting or fishing license
- If you do not have the one of the identifications listed above, you may present a current utility bill or paycheck, government check or bank statement or other government issued document. These documents must have your current residence address.[25]
Early voting
Alaska permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
All voters are eligible to vote absentee/by-mail in Alaska. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee/by-mail.[26]
If a voter is already registered to vote, an absentee ballot application must be received by elections officials at least 10 days prior to the election. If a voter has not yet registered to vote, or needs to update voter registration information, an absentee/mail-in ballot application must be received at least 30 days before the election.[26]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Anchorage Daily News, "After election, Alaska’s state senators ask themselves: Who’s in charge?," November 15, 2020
- ↑ Anchorage Daily News, "Republicans confirm control of Alaska Senate, but Alaska House remains deadlocked," January 19, 2021
- ↑ Anchorage Daily News, "Republicans confirm control of Alaska Senate, but Alaska House remains deadlocked," January 19, 2021
- ↑ Anchorage Daily News, "After election, Alaska’s state senators ask themselves: Who’s in charge?," November 15, 2020
- ↑ Alaska Election Law, "Title 15.25.040," accessed March 24, 2014
- ↑ Alaska Election Law, "Title 15.25.030," accessed October 10, 2023
- ↑ Alaska Election Law, "Title 15.25.050," accessed October 10, 2023
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Secretary of State Division of Elections Candidate Information, "Write-in Candidates," accessed October 10, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ JUSTIA US Law, "Alaska Statutes, Sec. 24.05.080," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑ Alaska’s Constitution, "A Citizen’s Guide," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑ NCSL, "State Primary Election Types," accessed July 15, 2024
- ↑ Alaska Division of Elections, "August 18, 2020 Primary Election Information," accessed July 15, 2024
- ↑ Alaska Division of Elections, "Polling Place Hours," accessed July 15, 2024
- ↑ Find Law, "Alaska Statutes Title 15. Elections 15.15.320. Voters in line when polls close," accessed July 15, 2024
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Alaska Division of Elections, "Who Can Register And Who Can Vote?" accessed July 15, 2024
- ↑ Alaska Division of Elections, "Register to Vote or Update Your Voter Registration," accessed July 15, 2024
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Alaska Division of Elections, "State of Alaska Voter Registration Application," accessed July 15, 2024
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Alaska Department of Revenue, “Automatic voter registration,” accessed July 15, 2024
- ↑ Alaska Division of Elections, "Presidential Elections," accessed July 15, 2024
- ↑ Alaska Department of Revenue, “Automatic voter registration,” accessed March 1, 2023
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Alaska State Legislature, "Alaska Statutes 2018 Sec. 15.15.225 Voter identification at polls," accessed July 15, 2024
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Alaska Division of Elections, "Voting at the Polling Place Election Day," accessed July 15, 2024
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Alaska Division of Elections, “Absentee and Early Voting,” accessed July 15, 2024
