View source for 2002 Alaska gubernatorial election

{{Short description|none}}
{{for|related races|2002 United States gubernatorial elections}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name      = 2002 Alaska gubernatorial election
| country            = Alaska
| type               = presidential
| ongoing            = no
| previous_election  = 1998 Alaska gubernatorial election
| previous_year      = 1998
| next_election      = 2006 Alaska gubernatorial election
| next_year          = 2006
| election_date      = November 5, 2002
| image1             = File:Frank Murkowski color portrait.jpg
| image_size = x150px
| nominee1           = '''[[Frank Murkowski]]'''
| party1             = Republican Party (United States)
| running_mate1      = '''[[Loren Leman]]'''
| popular_vote1      = '''129,279'''
| percentage1        = '''55.85%'''
| image2             = File:Fran Ulmer cropped.jpg
| nominee2           = [[Fran Ulmer]]
| party2             = Democratic Party (United States)
| running_mate2      = Ernie Hall
| popular_vote2      = 94,216
| percentage2        = 40.70%
|map_image=2002 Alaska gubernatorial election by State House District.svg
|map_size=325px
|map_caption=Results by state house district<br/>'''Murkowski''': {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}}<br/>'''Ulmer''': {{legend0|#a5b0ff|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}}
| title              = Governor
| before_election    = [[Tony Knowles (politician)|Tony Knowles]]
| before_party       = Democratic Party (United States)
| after_election     = [[Frank Murkowski]]
| after_party        = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Elections in Alaska sidebar}}
The '''2002 Alaska gubernatorial election''' took place on November 5, 2002, for the post of [[List of governors of Alaska|Governor of Alaska]]. [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] [[Frank Murkowski]] defeated [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[List of Lieutenant Governors of Alaska|Lieutenant Governor]] [[Fran Ulmer]].  Murkowski became the first Republican elected governor of Alaska since [[Jay Hammond]] in [[1978 Alaska gubernatorial election|1978]].

==Primaries==
[[Incumbent]] Democratic Governor [[Tony Knowles (politician)|Tony Knowles]] was [[term limit]]ed from running again. Lieutenant Governor Fran Ulmer easily won the Democratic [[Partisan primary|primary]] 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.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2002-08-27-primaries_x.htm.stm | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130205060630/http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2002-08-27-primaries_x.htm.stm | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2013-02-05 | title = Largent wins GOP nod for Oklahoma governor | access-date = 2008-07-19 | date = 2002-08-27| work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.seattlepi.com/local/79778_alaska24.shtml | title = Alaska candidate wants to pack her heat | access-date = 2008-07-20 | date = 2002-07-24| website = seattlepi.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://alaskalegislature.com/stories/081202/demgovernor.shtml |title=Democrats for governor: Ulmer, Lemke and Beasley |access-date=2008-07-20 |date=2002-08-12 |publisher=AlaskaLegislature.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060408000526/http://www.alaskalegislature.com/stories/081202/demgovernor.shtml |archive-date=2006-04-08 }}</ref>

==Campaign==
Murkowski started the campaign as the clear favorite as Ulmer, despite being lieutenant governor, had a lot less [[name recognition]].<ref name=close>{{cite news|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/22/elec02.ak.g/ |title=Alaska governor's race surprisingly close |access-date=2008-07-19 |date=2002-10-22 |publisher=[[CNN]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513231352/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/22/elec02.ak.g/ |archive-date=2008-05-13 |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name=close/><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/102102/ele_102102ele0020001.shtml | title = Ulmer chases odds to be first woman governor | access-date = 2008-07-20 | date = 2002-10-21 | publisher = Kenai Peninsula Online | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110715064140/http://peninsulaclarion.com/stories/102102/ele_102102ele0020001.shtml | archive-date = 2011-07-15 | url-status = dead }}</ref> By October polls showed the candidates about level with one poll on October 17 showing Ulmer at 46% and Murkowski at 43%.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/101702/ala_101702ala0080001.shtml | title = Poll shows Ulmer closed gap with Murkowski | access-date = 2008-07-20 | date = 2002-10-17 | publisher = Kenai Peninsula Online | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110715064300/http://peninsulaclarion.com/stories/101702/ala_101702ala0080001.shtml | archive-date = 2011-07-15 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

The biggest issue in the campaign was the economy and what to do about the projected budget shortfall in [[Alaska]].<ref name=close/> The issue dominated the October [[debate]]s between the two candidates in [[Fairbanks, Alaska|Fairbanks]] and [[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]].<ref name=debates>{{cite web | url = http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/102302/ala_102302ala0110001.shtml | title = Murkowski and Ulmer face off in two debates in Fairbanks | access-date = 2008-07-19 | date = 2002-10-23 | publisher = Kenai Peninsula Online | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110715064028/http://peninsulaclarion.com/stories/102302/ala_102302ala0110001.shtml | archive-date = 2011-07-15 | url-status = dead }}</ref> 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.<ref name=debates/> 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.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/102402/ala_102402ala0140001.shtml | title = Fiscal gap dominates Anchorage debate | access-date = 2008-07-19 | date = 2002-10-24 | publisher = Kenai Peninsula Online | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110715064104/http://peninsulaclarion.com/stories/102402/ala_102402ala0140001.shtml | archive-date = 2011-07-15 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

President [[George W. Bush]] made an advertisement supporting Murkowski, who also received support from Republicans [[Gale Norton]], [[Ted Stevens]] and [[Don Young]].<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2002-11-06-murkowski_x.htm | title = Career politician to head home state | access-date = 2008-07-20 | date = 2002-11-07| work=[[USA Today]] | first1=Jill | last1=Lawrence}}</ref> Ulmer received support from former Republican Governor [[Jay Hammond]], Governor [[Tony Knowles (politician)|Tony Knowles]] and called on voters to support her so that Murkowski could stay working as Senator for Alaska in [[United States Congress|Congress]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/nov2002/nf2002111_6042.htm |title=Post Time in the Gubernatorial Stakes |access-date=2008-07-20 |date=2002-11-01 |work=[[BusinessWeek]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050921003656/http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/nov2002/nf2002111_6042.htm |archive-date=2005-09-21 }}</ref> 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 daughter [[Lisa Murkowski]], majority leader-elect in the [[Alaska House of Representatives]], to fill the seat.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/102202/ala_102202ala0030001.shtml | title = Stevens stumps for Murkowski in Fairbanks | access-date = 2008-07-20 | date = 2002-10-22 | publisher = Kenai Peninsula Online | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110715064332/http://peninsulaclarion.com/stories/102202/ala_102202ala0030001.shtml | archive-date = 2011-07-15 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/122002/ala_122002alapm0010001.shtml | title = Gov. Murkowski appoints daughter to fill Senate seat | access-date = 2008-07-20 | date = 2002-12-20 | publisher = Kenai Peninsula Online | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081119131342/http://peninsulaclarion.com/stories/122002/ala_122002alapm0010001.shtml | archive-date = 2008-11-19 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

===Debate===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ 2002 Alaska gubernatorial election debate
|-
! scope="col" | {{abbr|No.|Number}}
! scope="col" | Date
! scope="col" | Host
! scope="col" | Moderator
! scope="col" | Link
! scope="col"| <small>[[Republican Party (US)|Republican]]</small>
! scope="col"| <small>[[Democratic Party (US)|Democratic]]</small>
|-
! colspan="5" rowspan="2" |Key:<br />{{Colors|black|#90ff90|&nbsp;P&nbsp;}} <small>Participant&nbsp;</small> {{Colors|black|#FFFFDD|&nbsp;A&nbsp;}} <small>Absent&nbsp;</small> {{Colors|black|#ff9090|&nbsp;N&nbsp;}} <small>Not invited&nbsp;</small> {{Colors|black|#CCFFCC|&nbsp;I&nbsp;}} <small>Invited {{color box|#f0e68c|W}} Withdrawn</small>
! scope="col" style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (US)}}"|
! scope="col" style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}"|
|-
! scope="col" | [[Frank Murkowski]]
! scope="col" | [[Fran Ulmer]]
|-
!1
| style="white-space:nowrap;" | Oct. 22, 2002
| style="white-space:nowrap;" | [[C-SPAN]]<br>[[KUAC-TV]]
| style="white-space:nowrap;" | Robert Hannon
| style="white-space:nowrap;" | [https://www.c-span.org/video/?173396-1/alaska-gubernatorial-debate C-SPAN]
| {{Yes|'''P'''}}
| {{Yes|'''P'''}}
|}

===Predictions===
{| class="wikitable"
!Source
!Ranking
!As of
|-
|[[The Cook Political Report]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cookpolitical.com:80/display.cfm?section=political&edit_id=225|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021208065752/http://www.cookpolitical.com/display.cfm?section=political&edit_id=225|archive-date=December 8, 2002|title=Governor Updated October 31, 2002 {{!}} The Cook Political Report|website=The Cook Political Report|language=en|date=October 31, 2002|access-date=September 18, 2018|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
| {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
|October 31, 2002
|-
|[[Sabato's Crystal Ball]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.centerforpolitics.org:80/crystalball/governor_all.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021212142349/http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/governor_all.htm|archive-date=December 12, 2002|title=Governors Races|website=www.centerforpolitics.org|language=en-US|date=November 4, 2002|access-date=September 18, 2018|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|R|Flip}}
|November 4, 2002
|}

===Election results===
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.
{{Election box begin | title=2002 Alaska gubernatorial election<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.state.ak.us/02genr/data/results.htm |title=STATE OF ALASKA GENERAL ELECTION – NOVEMBER 5, 2002 OFFICIAL RESULTS |access-date=2008-07-19 |publisher=State of Alaska Division of Elections |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080717190512/http://www.elections.state.ak.us/02genr/data/results.htm |archive-date=2008-07-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
 |party      = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate  = [[Frank Murkowski]]
 |votes      = 129,279
 |percentage = 55.85
 |change     = +38.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
 |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
 |candidate  = [[Fran Ulmer]]
 |votes      = 94,216
 |percentage = 40.70
 |change     = −10.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
 |party      = Green Party of Alaska
 |candidate  = [[Diane E. Benson]]
 |votes      = 2,926
 |percentage = 1.26
 |change     = −1.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
 |party      = Alaskan Independence Party
 |candidate  = [[Don Wright (politician)|Don Wright]]
 |votes      = 2,185
 |percentage = 0.94
 |change     = +0.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
 |party      = Republican Moderate Party of Alaska
 |candidate  = Raymond VinZant
 |votes      = 1,506
 |percentage = 0.65
 |change     = −5.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
 |party      = Alaska Libertarian Party
 |candidate  = Billy Toien
 |votes      = 1,109
 |percentage = 0.48
 |change     = +0.5
}}
{{Election box candidate|
 |party      = [[Write-in candidate|Write-ins]]
 |candidate  = 
 |votes      = 263
 |percentage = 0.11
 |change     = −19.7
}}
{{Election box majority|
 |votes      = 35,063
 |percentage = 15.2
 |change     = −17.8
}}
{{Election box turnout|
 |votes      = 231,484
 |percentage = 50.5
 |change     = +1.9
}}
{{Election box gain with party link|
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
  |loser      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |swing      = −48.2
}}
{{Election box end}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Alaska gubernatorial elections}}
{{2002 United States elections}}

[[Category:Alaska gubernatorial elections|2002]]
[[Category:2002 United States gubernatorial elections|Alaska]]
[[Category:2002 Alaska elections|Governor]]
[[Category:November 2002 in the United States]]