The 2022 Alaska state elections took place on November 8, 2022.[1] The state also held Regional Educational Attendance Area (REAA) elections on the first Tuesday in October.[2]
Under Alaska's recently adopted election system, the state conducted a nonpartisan blanket primary. Murkowski finished first (with 45.05% of the vote), ahead of Republican Kelly Tshibaka (38.55%), Democrat Pat Chesbro (6.82%), and Republican Buzz Kelly (2.13%). Murkowski, Tshibaka, Chesbro, and Kelly all advanced to the ranked-choice general election.
In the first round of tabulation in the general election, Murkowski finished first (with 43.37% of the vote); Tshibaka finished in a close second (42.60%). Chesbro received 10.37% of the vote, while Buzz Kelly received 2.89%.
Murkowski won the election with 53.70% of the vote in the third round of tabulation.
2022 United States Senate election in Alaska[3][4]
Incumbent Republican representative Don Young died on March 18, 2022, after serving as representative for 49 years.[6] A special election was held on August 16 to fill the rest of his term, resulting in Democrat Mary Peltola beating Republicans Sarah Palin and Nick Begich using the state's newly implemented ranked-choice voting system.[7]
Peltola ran for election to a full-term, again against Palin and Begich. Republican Tara Sweeney originally placed fourth in the nonpartisan blanket primary, but withdrew. She was replaced by Libertarian Chris Bye, who finished the primary in fifth place.
In the first round of general election voting, Peltola came in first with 48.77% of the vote to Palin's 25.74%, Begich's 23.33%, and Bye's 1.73%. In the third round, Peltola won the election with 54.96% of the vote.
2022 Alaska's at-large congressional district election[8]
Incumbent RepublicangovernorMike Dunleavy was originally elected to the position in 2018 with 51.4% of the vote. He ran for re-election in 2022.
In Alaska's nonpartisan blanket primary, Dunleavy and his running mate, former commissioner of the Alaska Department of CorrectionsNancy Dahlstrom, finished first with 40.43% of the vote. Former Democratic state representative Les Gara and Jessica Cook came in second place, with 23.06% of the vote; independent former Alaska governor Bill Walker and Heidi Drygas finished in third place with 22.77% of the vote.
Dunleavy and Dahlstrom won the general election in the first round of ranked-choice voting with 50.29% of the vote.
19 of the state's 20 senate seats were up for election in 2022, with some elected for two-year terms and other for four-year terms due to redistricting. The Republican party lost two seats, while the Democratic party gained two seats for an eleven to nine seat split respectively. A bipartisan coalition of eight Republicans and nine Democrats was announced, electing Gary Stevens as Senate President.
All 40 seats of the Alaska House of Representatives were up in this election. Since 2016, the house had been governed by a coalition of Democrats, Independents, and some Republicans. The coalition was re-elected to a majority, albeit with only 20 of the total 40 seats in the chamber, with 6 Independents and 1 Republican joining all 13 Democrats. Republican Cathy Tilton was elected speaker, replacing Republican Louise Stutes.
Ballot Measure 1 asked Alaskans whether a constitutional convention should be held, a vote that appears on ballots every ten years.[11] The measure was supported by Governor Mike Dunleavy and opposed by the Alaskan Democratic Party.[12]
The measure failed with 70.46% voting against.
Notes
^Remained on the ballot because of his withdrawal after the deadline of 64 days ahead of the election.[5]
^Suspended her campaign and endorsed Dunleavy on October 25, 2022 after allegations of sexual harassment against Pierce but remained on the ballot.[10]
^Consists of 15 Democrats, 2 Republicans, and 4 Independents.
^Consists of 13 Democrats, 1 Republican, and 6 Independents.
