Elections

All elections stories. (These stories are also categorized as “politics”.)

On education, candidates for governor have different priorities and styles

Democrat Mark Begich and Republican Mike Dunleavy come from different backgrounds. Begich has been outside the education system, Dunleavy within it.

To carry out salmon habitat measure, Alaska must decide what ‘significant’ means

Part of the uncertainty on how the salmon habitat initiative could affect things like small-scale hydro projects or mom-and-pop placer mines hinges on a single phrase in the ballot measure: "significant adverse effects." Listen now

Campaign filings show focus on Fairbanks Senate, House races

The Senate race in Fairbanks between Republican Sen. Pete Kelly and Democratic Rep. Scott Kawasaki has seen the most spending of any legislative race. By a wide margin. Listen now

Meet the two men who have spent $700,000 trying to make Mike Dunleavy Alaska’s governor

Until a late influx of money in the final weeks of the campaign, most of the cash for the pro-Dunleavy independent expenditure group came from two people. Dunleavy's brother Francis and Bob Penney, the developer and recreational fishing advocate who's long donated to Republican candidates and causes. Listen now

Poll finds less than one percent margin in race for governor

Mike Dunleavy leads Mark Begich 42.5 percent to 42.3 percent in the poll, which was taken from last Friday through Monday. Listen now

Kelly, Kawasaki clash over budget, Medicaid, climate change in last debate before election

Cuts to the state budget and Permanent Fund dividend dominated a Monday debate in Fairbanks between Republican Senate President Sen. Pete Kelly and Democratic Rep. Scott Kawasaki.

Begich spent four years as a consultant. As governor, he could sign bills affecting former clients

For the past four years, Begich has owned a public affairs and consulting firm, working with clients that intersect with state government. If elected, he’ll likely be faced with decisions that will directly affect the businesses, unions and Native organizations that have been paying his business for advice. Listen now

Hillary Clinton urges support for Begich in Alaska gubernatorial race

Former secretary of state and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is wading into Alaska’s governor’s race.

Sen. Murkowski endorses Republican Mike Dunleavy for governor

Sen. Murkowski says that Dunleavy’s stance on Ballot Measure 1, a controversial salmon habitat ballot measure, was a big factor in her support.

Tensions show in Young-Galvin debate, and not just between the candidates

Testy moments punctuated the debate when Rep. Don Young and challenger Alyse Galvin faced off. Listen now

Gov. Walker hasn’t been actively campaigning for Begich and plans to take time off after his term

“I need to cut some lumber, make some sawdust and, you know, go through sort of that process,” Walker said of what he’ll do after his term ends.

Dunleavy, Begich spar on budget, crime in debate

They traded accusations over which branch of government is responsible for the rise in crime. Listen now

Will Alaska’s new governor keep Walker’s climate team?

Now, the real work to address climate change can start. But it’s hard to know what that might look like under new leadership. Listen now

From Trump and tribes to Grammy-winning rock bands: Dunleavy and Begich receive varying endorsements

In the last week, both Mike Dunleavy and Mark Begich received endorsements from varying spheres of influence. Listen now

Alaska AFL-CIO endorses Begich after Walker suspends campaign

Alaska AFL-CIO President Vince Beltrami said labor leaders on a conference call unanimously supported Begich. Listen now

New poll says Dunleavy-Begich spread is under 5 percent

The latest poll was conducted after independent Gov. Bill Walker suspended his campaign.

Division of Elections says absentee ballots cast for Walker are final

The Alaska Division of Elections has received several thousand absentee ballots for the Nov. 6 general election. Those voters would not have known that incumbent Gov. Bill Walker was ending his re-election campaign. Listen now

Gov. Walker suspends campaign for reelection in AFN announcement

Governor Walker announced today that he is suspending his campaign for reelection. That leaves a two-person race for governor between Republican Mike Dunleavy and Democrat Mark Begich. Listen now

Walker remains in the race — for now

It’s too late to be removed from the ballot. Roughly 1,000 absentee ballots have already been returned. Listen now

Democrats would like to see Walker step aside in campaign

This would effectively turn the campaign into a two-way race between Republican Mike Dunleavy and Democrat Mark Begich.