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 Results by state house district Murkowski: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Ulmer: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Alaska |
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The2002 Alaska gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 2002, for the post ofGovernor of Alaska.RepublicanU.S. SenatorFrank Murkowski defeatedDemocraticLieutenant GovernorFran Ulmer. Murkowski became the first Republican elected governor of Alaska sinceJay Hammond in1978.
Incumbent Democratic GovernorTony Knowles wasterm limited from running again. Lieutenant Governor Fran Ulmer easily won the Democraticprimary on August 27 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]
Murkowski started the campaign as the clear favorite as Ulmer, despite being lieutenant governor, had a lot lessname 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 October 17 showing Ulmer at 46% and Murkowski at 43%.[6]
The biggest issue in the campaign was the economy and what to do about the projected budget shortfall inAlaska.[4] The issue dominated the Octoberdebates between the two candidates inFairbanks andAnchorage.[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]
PresidentGeorge W. Bush made an advertisement supporting Murkowski, who also received support from RepublicansGale Norton,Ted Stevens andDon Young.[9] Ulmer received support from former Republican GovernorJay Hammond, GovernorTony Knowles and called on voters to support her so that Murkowski could stay working as Senator for Alaska inCongress.[10] During the campaign Murkowski refused to say whom he would appoint to serve his remaining two years as U.S. senator but after the election appointed his daughterLisa Murkowski, majority leader-elect in theAlaska House of Representatives, to fill the seat.[11][12]
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Republican | Democratic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key: P Participant A Absent N Not invited I Invited W Withdrawn | ||||||
| Frank Murkowski | Fran Ulmer | |||||
| 1 | Oct. 22, 2002 | C-SPAN KUAC-TV | Robert Hannon | C-SPAN | P | P |
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[13] | Tossup | October 31, 2002 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[14] | Lean R(flip) | November 4, 2002 |
U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski won the election with 55.9% of the vote, the highest percentage for any Alaska gubernatorial candidate up to that time.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Frank Murkowski | 129,279 | 55.85 | +38.0 | |
| Democratic | Fran Ulmer | 94,216 | 40.70 | −10.6 | |
| Green | Diane E. Benson | 2,926 | 1.26 | −1.7 | |
| Independence | Don Wright | 2,185 | 0.94 | +0.9 | |
| Republican Moderate | Raymond VinZant | 1,506 | 0.65 | −5.5 | |
| Libertarian | Billy Toien | 1,109 | 0.48 | +0.5 | |
| Write-ins | 263 | 0.11 | −19.7 | ||
| Majority | 35,063 | 15.2 | −17.8 | ||
| Turnout | 231,484 | 50.5 | +1.9 | ||
| Republicangain fromDemocratic | Swing | −48.2 | |||
