Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy secured a second term in office, beating four challengers under Alaska’s new ranked choice voting system as the results were announced Wednesday.
Dunleavy, a Republican, was first elected governor in 2018 when he beat Bill Walker, one of his opponents in this year’s race. The other candidates were Les Gara, a Democrat, and Republican Charlie Pierce.
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Walker withdrew from the 2018 race and threw his political weight behind Democrat Mark Begich, saying, “Alaskans deserve a choice other than Mike Dunleavy.”
Dunleavy received coveted endorsements from former President Donald Trump and the Alaska Republican Party. The Democratic Party endorsed Gara, while Walker picked up several endorsements from state legislators and the AFL-CIO.
Dunleavy handily defeated his closest competitor, Gara, by 26 points on Wednesday.
Unlike most states, where abortion was a driving factor for voters, Alaska is one of four in the U.S. where abortion was legal before the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. Therefore, the Supreme Court’s reversal of it earlier this year did not play as big of a role in the election, though it didn’t stop the candidates from talking about it.
“By returning the issue to the states where it belongs, Alaskans have the freedom to address this issue as they see fit,” Dunleavy said. “I’ve stated that I would introduce an amendment to let people vote on the right to abortion through a constitutional amendment. I am personally pro-life, and I’ll respect the outcome of that vote regardless of my personal beliefs.”
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On the campaign trail and during a televised debate, Dunleavy argued he should be reelected because Alaska is better off now than it was four years ago, something his opponents have challenged.
One major concern for Alaskans is the permanent fund dividend. Alaska invests in oil and natural gas revenues and then gives a portion of the earnings to residents each year. However, in 2016, a chunk went toward funding the state government. Since then, the issue has divided not only state lawmakers but residents as well. The fight over the money given to Alaskans has repeatedly threatened to shut down the state government.
Dunleavy said he wants to guarantee the dividends in the state constitution and wants a 50-50 split between residents and government services. Gara wanted to return to a former formula Alaska used, while Walker said he would support “the largest dividend the state can afford” without raising taxes or pulling funds from education and public safety.
The governor’s race was rocked by a scandal in October after Pierce’s former executive assistant sued him for sexual harassment. Piece’s running mate, Edie Grunwald, dropped out of the race four days after Pierce was sued.
“My withdrawing is not a reflection of guilt or innocence,” she said. “I really just have to just stand up for the general idea of respectful treatment of women in the workplace.”
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Grunwald, a retired Air Force colonel, was picked by Pierce to be his running mate in March. Pierce refused to drop out.
