2020 Alaska Senate election (original) (raw)

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2020 Alaska Senate election
← 2018 November 3, 2020 2022 →
11 of 20 seats in the Alaska Senate11 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party Leader Lyman Hoffman[a] Tom Begich Party Republican Democratic Leader since July 9, 2019 January 15, 2019 Leader's seat S District J District Seats before 13 7 Seats after 13 7 Seat change Steady Steady Popular vote 104,467 39,447 Percentage 57.84% 21.84%
Results: Democratic hold Republican hold No election
Senate President before election Cathy Giessel Republican Elected Senate President Peter Micciche Republican

The 2020 Alaska Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 2020 United States elections. Voters in Alaska elected state senators in 11 of the state's 20 senate districts – the usual ten plus one special election. State senators serve four-year terms in the Alaska Senate, with half seats up for election every two years. Primary elections on August 18, 2020, determined which candidates appeared on the general election ballot on November 3, 2020.

Following the previous election in 2018, Republicans had control of the Alaska Senate with 13 seats to Democrats' 7 seats. One Democrat caucused with the Republicans, giving them a governing majority of 14 seats.

Affiliation Party (shading indicates majority caucus) Total
Republican Democratic Vacant
Before election 13 7[a] 20 0
After election 13 7 20 0
Change Steady Steady Steady
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[1] Lean R October 21, 2020
2020 Alaska Senate electionGeneral election — November 3, 2020
Party Votes % Seats not up Seats up Candidates Before After +/–
Republican 104,467 57.84 5 8 10 13 13
Democratic 39,447 21.84 4 3 5 7 7
Independent 26,286 14.55 — — 7[b] 0 0
Alaska Independence 6,753 3.74 — — 1 — —
Write-ins 2,650 1.47 — — — — —
Libertarian 998 0.55 — — 1 — —
Total 180,601 100 11 9 24 20 20 Steady
District Winner Margin
District H Democratic 15.7%
District M Republican 15.5%
District N Republican 4.1%

Incumbents defeated

[edit]

Two Republican incumbents lost renomination.

  1. N District: Senate President Cathy Giessel lost renomination to Roger Holland.
  2. B District: John Coghill lost renomination to Robert Myers Jr.

| District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Senator | Party | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----- | --------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | --- | | B | John Coghill | | Rep | Robert Myers Jr. | | Rep | | D | David S. Wilson | | Rep | David S. Wilson | | Rep | | F | Shelley Hughes | | Rep | Shelley Hughes | | Rep | | H | Bill Wielechowski | | Dem | Bill Wielechowski | | Dem | | J | Tom Begich | | Dem | Tom Begich[c] | | Dem | | L | Natasha von Imhof | | Rep | Natasha von Imhof | | Rep | | M (special) | Josh Revak | | Rep | Josh Revak | | Rep | | N | Cathy Giessel | | Rep | Roger Holland | | Rep | | P | Gary Stevens | | Rep | Gary Stevens | | Rep | | R | Bert Stedman | | Rep | Bert Stedman | | Rep | | T | Donny Olson | | Dem | Donny Olson | | Dem |

District B • District D • District F • District H • District J • District L • District M (special) • District N • District P • District R • District T

Republican primary
John Coghill, the incumbent since 2009, was facing opposition in the Republican primary from Robert Myers Jr., who announced his candidacy for the seat on July 10.[2] Trailing by 14 votes in the official count, incumbent Coghill asked for a recount,[3] but, when the lead remained the same after the recount, Coghill conceded defeat and Myers was declared the winner.[4]

General election

David S. Wilson, the incumbent since 2017, was facing opposition in the Republican primary from five other candidates.[5] Thomas Lamb, who filed as a nonpartisan on the Democratic primary ticket, qualified automatically for the general election.[6] Republican primary

General election

Republican Shelley Hughes, the incumbent since 2017, and Independent Stephany Jeffers were the only two candidates to file for this seat. They both advanced unopposed to the general election.[7] Jeffers withdrew her candidacy on August 31 and was replaced by fellow Independent Jim Cooper.[8]

Democrat Bill Wielechowski, the incumbent since 2007, and Republican Madeline Gaiser were the only two candidates to file for this seat. They both advanced unopposed to the general election.[9]

Democrat Tom Begich, the incumbent since 2017, was the only candidate to file for this seat. He ran unopposed in the general election.[9]

Republican primary
Natasha von Imhof, the incumbent since 2016, was facing opposition in the Republican primary from challenger Stephen Duplantis.[10] Roselynn Cacy, the only Democrat to file, qualified automatically for the general election.[9] Independent candidate Jeff Landfield withdrew his candidacy on August 31.[11] Republican primary loser Stephen Duplantis announced intentions to register as a write-in candidate.[8]

General election

District M (special)

[edit]

After the death of Sen. Chris Birch in August 2019,[12] Governor Mike Dunleavy appointed state representative Josh Revak to the Senate the following month. Revak was running as the incumbent and was seeking his first full term. He was challenged by two candidates in the Republican primary.[13] In addition, two candidates were contesting the Democratic primary.

Democratic nominee Anita Thorne withdrew her candidacy on August 31.[8] Republican primary

Democratic primary

General election

Cathy Giessel, the incumbent since 2011 and the President of the Senate since January 2019, was facing opposition in the Republican primary from DOT&PF measurement scientist Roger Holland.[14] Additionally, two candidates were contesting the Democratic primary.[15] Republican primary

Democratic primary

General election

Gary Stevens, the incumbent since 2003, was facing opposition in the Republican primary from former state house candidate John Cox.[16] Challenger Greg Madden contested the general election on the Alaskan Independence Party ticket.[17] Republican primary

General election

Republican primary
Bert Stedman, the incumbent since 2003, was facing opposition in the Republican primary from handyman Michael Sheldon.[2]

General election

Donny Olson, the incumbent since 2001, was running unopposed in the Democratic primary. Two Republican candidates, Kotzebue vice-mayor Thomas Baker and Deering tribal president Calvin Moto II, challenged him for the seat.[18] Republican primary

General election

  1. ^ a b Hoffman, who was not up for reelection in 2020, is a Democrat who caucused with the Republican majority.

  2. ^ Includes nonpartisan candidate

  3. ^ Did not face opposition in the general election.

  4. ^ a b Candidate running as an independent with the Democratic party's nomination.

  5. ^ "October Overview: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved November 1, 2020.

  6. ^ a b Tewksbury, Sara. "Republican Robert Myers runs for Senator John Coghill's seat". webcenterfairbanks.com. Retrieved August 5, 2020.

  7. ^ Kuac, Robyne (August 31, 2020). "Trailing in Republican primary, Coghill asks for recount". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved September 4, 2020.

  8. ^ Brooks, James (September 2, 2020). "Recount upholds 14-vote primary loss for longtime incumbent state Sen. John Coghill". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved September 4, 2020.

  9. ^ "State of Alaska Official Sample Ballot: August 18, 2020 Alaska Republican Party Primary | House District 8" (PDF). elections.alaska.gov. Retrieved August 5, 2020.

  10. ^ Landfield, Jeff (July 26, 2020). "The Sunday Minefield – July 26, 2020". The Alaska Landmine. Retrieved August 5, 2020.

  11. ^ Rockey, Tim. "Candidates file for 2020 elections". Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman. Retrieved August 5, 2020.

  12. ^ a b c Brooks, James (August 31, 2020). "New candidates emerge in campaigns for Alaska Legislature". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved September 1, 2020.

  13. ^ a b c Buxton, Matt (June 5, 2020). "It's the year of the contested primary, especially for incumbent Republicans". The Midnight Sun. Retrieved August 5, 2020.

  14. ^ Downing, Suzanne (June 5, 2020). "Candidate Duplantis thinks 'COVID is a hoax and George Floyd didn't exist'". Must Read Alaska. Retrieved August 5, 2020.

  15. ^ Buxton, Matt (August 31, 2020). "'It would have been an epic campaign.' Landfield withdraws from crowded Senate race". The Midnight Sun.

  16. ^ "Anchorage state Sen. Chris Birch dies at 68". Anchorage Daily News. August 8, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2020.

  17. ^ Brooks, James (June 21, 2020). "In Alaska primary elections, it's Republican versus Republican, with dividends as the battleground". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved August 5, 2020.

  18. ^ Downing, Suzanne (January 21, 2020). "Senate Pres. Cathy Giessel gets primary challenger". Must Read Alaska. Retrieved August 5, 2020.

  19. ^ Thompson, John (June 2, 2020). "Here's who Alaskans will find on the August primary ballot". www.ktva.com. Retrieved August 5, 2020.

  20. ^ Pacer, Megan (July 21, 2020). "John Cox makes a run at Senate District P seat". Homer News. Retrieved August 5, 2020.

  21. ^ Pacer, Megan (July 21, 2020). "Soldotna's Greg Madden makes bid for Alaska Senate". Homer News. Retrieved August 5, 2020.

  22. ^ Early, Wesley (June 1, 2020). "Kotzebue's Thomas Baker adds name to list of Republican challengers to Sen. Donny Olson". KOTZ Radio 720 AM. Retrieved August 5, 2020.