2018 Alaska gubernatorial election


The 2018 Alaska gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of Alaska. In the primaries for recognized political parties, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run separately. The winners of each respective primary for governor and lieutenant governor then become a joint ticket in the general election for their political party. Incumbent independent governor Bill Walker was running for reelection in what was originally a three-way race between Walker, Republican nominee Mike Dunleavy, a former State Senator, and Democratic nominee Mark Begich, a former U.S. Senator. However, Walker dropped out on October 19, 2018 and endorsed Begich. In spite of Walker dropping out, Dunleavy defeated Begich in what would become the only gubernatorial gain by a Republican candidate in 2018.
Independent candidates for governor and lieutenant governor may form a ticket that will appear on the general election ballot, provided that both candidates on the ticket collect enough valid petition signatures, as mandated by the Alaska Division of Elections.

Democratic-Libertarian-Independence primary

Candidates from the Alaska Democratic Party, Alaska Libertarian Party and Alaskan Independence Party appear on the same ballot, with the highest-placed candidate from each party receiving that party's nomination. In October 2017 the AKDP sued for the right to allow non-Democrats to compete for and win the Democratic nomination, which was ultimately decided in their favor in April 2018. This move was widely thought to benefit incumbent Gov. Bill Walker, to foreclose the possibility of a Democratic nominee splitting the vote with Walker against a Republican nominee. However, with the entry of former senator Mark Begich into the race, Walker withdrew from the Democratic primary and forged ahead with a fully independent bid for reelection.

Governor

Declared

Endorsements

Results

Lieutenant governor

Declared

Republican primary

Governor

Nominated

Polling

Hypothetical polling----------

Results

Lieutenant governor

Declared

Independents

Governor

Withdrew

  • Bill Walker, incumbent governor

    Lieutenant governor

Withdrew

  • Byron Mallott, incumbent lieutenant governor until October 16
  • Valerie Davidson, incumbent lieutenant governor since October 16

    General election

Campaign

candidate and incumbent governor Bill Walker announced on October 19 that he was suspending his campaign and endorsing Mark Begich, three days after Walker's running mate and incumbent lieutenant governor Byron Mallott resigned from office. However, Walker and Mallott still remained on the ballot as the deadline to withdraw was on September 4.

Debates

Predictions

Endorsements

Polling

;with Bill Walker, Mike Dunleavy, and Mark Begich
Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Bill
Walker 		Mike
Dunleavy 		Mark
Begich 		Billy
Toien 		OtherUndecided
October 26–29, 2018500± 4.4%8%43%42%3%–4%
October 19–22, 2018500± 4.4%5%48%44%––3%
October 12–14, 2018500± 4.4%27%43%26%––4%
October 11–12, 2018645–24%43%23%––9%
October 1–6, 2018500± 4.4%27%47%23%––4%
September 21–25, 2018500± 4.4%23%44%29%––4%
August 13–16, 2018602± 4.0%26%36%24%–2%12%
June 22–28, 2018800± 3.4%28%36%22%––15%
June 21–26, 2018602± 4.0%28%32%28%––12%
June 15–21, 2018654± 3.8%23%38%33%––6%

;with Mark Begich and Mike Dunleavy
Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Mark
Begich 		Mike
Dunleavy 		Undecided
October 12–14, 2018500± 4.4%45%52%4%
October 1–6, 2018500± 4.4%41%55%5%
September 21–25, 2018500± 4.4%47%50%3%
August 13–16, 2018602± 4.0%46%44%–
June 21–26, 2018602± 4.0%50%41%9%
March 25–29, 2018761± 3.6%53%42%5%


Hypothetical polling		------

;with Bill Walker and Mike Dunleavy

Results

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