Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell has conceded in the state’s gubernatorial race, issuing a statement a day after independent candidate Bill Walker was declared the winner.
Parnell wrote on Facebook Saturday that he met with Walker Saturday morning, offering him office space to help with the transition.
Walker grabbed a slim lead on election night, but the race was too close to call while absentee and questioned voters were counted this week. Walker won Friday when it became evident that Parnell could not overcome Walker’s lead.
Parnell has served as governor since July 2009, when Sarah Palin resigned. He won election in his own right in 2010.
Walker, an attorney and former mayor of Valdez, is the first candidate unaffiliated with a party to be elected governor since statehood. He is scheduled to be sworn in on Dec. 1.
