2006 Alaska gubernatorial election
November 7, 2006
 
Nominee Sarah Palin Tony Knowles Andrew Halcro
Party Republican Democratic Independent
Running mate Sean Parnell Ethan Berkowitz Fay Von Gemmingen
Popular vote 114,697 97,238 22,443
Percentage 48.3% 41.0% 9.5%
Borough and census area results
Palin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Knowles:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Governor before election

Frank Murkowski
Republican

 Elected Governor

Sarah Palin
Republican

The 2006 Alaska gubernatorial general election took place on November 7, 2006. The former mayor of Wasilla, Sarah Palin, defeated incumbent governor Frank Murkowski in the Republican primary, and then went on to defeat former governor Tony Knowles in the general election. Palin became the first governor of the state to be born after Alaskan statehood.

Palin would later become the unsuccessful Republican vice presidential nominee in 2008, before resigning as governor in 2009.

Primaries

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.

2006 Republican primary for Alaska governor[1]
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.

2006 Democratic primary for Alaska governor[2]
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

Other Parties

Alaskan Independence Party

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 was able to win.

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[3] Tossup November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball[4] Lean R November 6, 2006
Rothenberg Political Report[5] Lean R November 2, 2006
Real Clear Politics[6] Lean R November 6, 2006

Polling

Poll source Date(s) administered Sarah
Palin (R)		 Tony
Knowles (D)
Rasmussen November 3, 2006 45% 44%
Rasmussen October 9, 2006 47% 40%
Rasmussen September 8, 2006 52% 38%
Rasmussen August 3, 2006 51% 38%
Ivan Moore Research June 7, 2006 39% 43%

Results

2006 Alaska gubernatorial election
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
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%

See also

References

  1. ↑ "STATE OF ALASKA - 2006 PRIMARY ELECTION AUGUST 22, 2006 OFFICIAL RESULTS". Archived from the original on March 4, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
  2. ↑ "PRIMARY ELECTION August 22, 2006 Primary Election Results". Archived from the original on November 27, 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
  3. ↑ "2006 Governor Race Ratings for November 6, 2006" (PDF). The Cook Political Report. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 5, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2006.
  4. ↑ "Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  5. ↑ "2006 Gubernatorial Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Election 2006". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
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