Alaska gubernatorial election, 2002
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| Alaska gubernatorial election, 2002 | ||||
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| November 5, 2002 | ||||
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| Nominee | Frank Murkowski | Fran Ulmer | ||
| Party | Republican | Democratic | ||
| Popular vote | 129,279 | 94,216 | ||
| Percentage | 55.85% | 40.70% | ||
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The 2002 Alaska gubernatorial election took place on 5 November 2002 for the post of Governor of Alaska. Republican US Senator Frank Murkowski defeated Democratic Lieutenant Governor Fran Ulmer. Murkowski became the first Republican elected governor of Alaska since Jay Hammond in 1978.
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[edit] Primaries
Incumbent Democratic Governor Tony Knowles was term limited from running again. Lieutenant Governor Fran Ulmer easily won the Democratic primary on 27 August against outsiders Michael Beasley and Bruce Lemke, neither of whom did much campaigning. Meanwhile Senator Frank Murkowski also gained an easy win in the Republican primary.[1][2][3]
[edit] Campaign
Murkowski started the campaign as the clear favourite as Ulmer, despite being Lieutenant Governor, had a lot less name recognition.[4] Polls initially showed Ulmer about 20 percent behind Murkowski but as the campaign continued Ulmer closed on Murkowski in the polls by concentrating on local issues such as the state budget and by portraying herself as a moderate.[4][5] By October polls showed the candidates about level with one poll on the 17 October showing Ulmer on 46% and Murkowski on 43%.[6]
The biggest issue in the campaign was the economy and what to do about the projected budget shortfall in Alaska.[4] The issue dominated the October debates between the two candidates in Fairbanks and Anchorage.[7] Ulmer argued that the state should consider introducing a statewide tax for the first time since 1980 if the budget reserve fell too far and that state spending should be capped.[7] However Murkowski opposed any new taxes and called his opponent pro-tax. He said that new oil prospects, high oil prices and revenues from other resources could close the gap in the budget.[8]
President George Bush made an advertisement to support Murkowski, who also received support from Republicans Gale Norton, Ted Stevens and Don Young.[9] Ulmer received support from former Republican Governor Jay Hammond, Governor Tony Knowles and called on voters to support her so that Murkowski could stay working as Senator for Alaska in Congress.[10] During the campaign Murkowski refused to say who he would appoint to serve his remaining two years as Senator but after the election appointed his daughter Lisa Murkowski, majority leader in the Alaska House of Representatives, to the US Senate.[11][12]
[edit] Election results
U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski won the election with 55.85% of the vote, the highest percentage for any gubernatorial candidate in the history of Alaska.
| 2002 gubernatorial election, Alaska[13] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Republican | Frank Murkowski | 129,279 | 55.9 | +38.0 | |
| Democratic | Fran Ulmer | 94,216 | 40.7 | -10.6 | |
| Green | Diane E. Benson | 2,926 | 1.3 | -1.7 | |
| Alaskan Independence | Don Wright | 2,185 | 0.9 | +0.9 | |
| Republican Moderate Party of Alaska | Raymond VinZant | 1,506 | 0.7 | -5.5 | |
| Libertarian | Billy Toien | 1,109 | 0.5 | +0.5 | |
| Write-ins | 263 | 0.1 | -19.7 | ||
| Majority | 35,063 | 15.2 | -17.8 | ||
| Turnout | 231,484 | 50.5 | +1.9 | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | -48.2 | |||
[edit] References
- ^ "Largent wins GOP nod for Oklahoma governor". USA Today. 2002-08-27. http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2002-08-27-primaries_x.htm.stm. Retrieved on 2008-07-19.
- ^ "Alaska candidate wants to pack her heat". seattlepi.com. 2002-07-24. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/79778_alaska24.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-07-20.
- ^ "Democrats for governor: Ulmer, Lemke and Beasley". AlaskaLegislature.com. 2002-08-12. http://alaskalegislature.com/stories/081202/demgovernor.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-07-20.
- ^ a b c "Alaska governor's race surprisingly close". CNN. 2002-10-22. http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/22/elec02.ak.g/. Retrieved on 2008-07-19.
- ^ "Ulmer chases odds to be first woman governor". Kenai Peninsula Online. 2002-10-21. http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/102102/ele_102102ele0020001.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-07-20.
- ^ "Poll shows Ulmer closed gap with Murkowski". Kenai Peninsula Online. 2002-10-17. http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/101702/ala_101702ala0080001.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-07-20.
- ^ a b "Murkowski and Ulmer face off in two debates in Fairbanks". Kenai Peninsula Online. 2002-10-23. http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/102302/ala_102302ala0110001.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-07-19.
- ^ "Fiscal gap dominates Anchorage debate". Kenai Peninsula Online. 2002-10-24. http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/102402/ala_102402ala0140001.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-07-19.
- ^ "Career politician to head home state". USA Today. 2002-11-07. http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2002-11-06-murkowski_x.htm. Retrieved on 2008-07-20.
- ^ "Post Time in the Gubernatorial Stakes". BusinessWeek. 2002-11-01. http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/nov2002/nf2002111_6042.htm. Retrieved on 2008-07-20.
- ^ "Stevens stumps for Murkowski in Fairbanks". Kenai Peninsula Online. 2002-10-22. http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/102202/ala_102202ala0030001.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-07-20.
- ^ "Gov. Murkowski appoints daughter to fill Senate seat". Kenai Peninsula Online. 2002-12-20. http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/122002/ala_122002alapm0010001.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-07-20.
- ^ "STATE OF ALASKA GENERAL ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 2002 OFFICIAL RESULTS". State of Alaska Division of Elections. http://www.elections.state.ak.us/02genr/data/results.htm. Retrieved on 2008-07-19.
