View source for 2006 Alaska gubernatorial election

{{Short description|none}}
{{for|related races|2006 United States gubernatorial elections}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2006 Alaska gubernatorial election
| country = Alaska
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 Alaska gubernatorial election
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2010 Alaska gubernatorial election
| next_year = 2010
| election_date = November 7, 2006
| image1 = Palin In Carson City On 13 September 2008.jpg
| nominee1 = '''[[Sarah Palin]]'''
| party1 = Republican Party (United States)
| running_mate1 = '''[[Sean Parnell]]'''
| popular_vote1 = '''114,697'''
| percentage1 = '''48.33%'''
| image2 = Tony Knowles (D-AK) (cropped).jpg
| nominee2 = [[Tony Knowles (politician)|Tony Knowles]]
| running_mate2 = [[Ethan Berkowitz]]
| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 97,238
| percentage2 = 40.97%
| image3 = Andrew Halcro.webp
| nominee3 = [[Andrew Halcro]]
| running_mate3 = Fay Von Gemmingen
| party3 = Independent
| popular_vote3 = 22,443
| percentage3 = 9.46%
| map_image = 2006 Alaska gubernatorial election results map by borough and census area.svg
| map_size = 350px
| map_caption = [[List of boroughs and census areas in Alaska|Borough and census area]] results<br />'''Palin:''' {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} <br />'''Knowles:''' {{legend0|#a5b0ff|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}}
| title = Governor
| before_election = [[Frank Murkowski]]
| before_party = Republican Party (United States)
| after_election = [[Sarah Palin]]
| after_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Elections in Alaska sidebar}}
{{Sarah Palin series}}
The '''2006 Alaska gubernatorial general election''' took place on November 7, 2006. The former mayor of [[Wasilla, Alaska|Wasilla]], [[Sarah Palin]], defeated incumbent governor Frank Murkowski in the Republican primary, and then went on to defeat former governor [[Tony Knowles (politician)|Tony Knowles]] in the general election. Palin became the first governor of the state to be born after Alaskan statehood.

Palin would later become the unsuccessful Republican vice presidential nominee in 2008, before resigning as governor in 2009.

== Republican primary ==

=== Candidates ===

* [[John Binkley]], [[Fairbanks, Alaska|Fairbanks]] businessman and former State Senator from Bethel
* Gerald Heikes
* Merica Hlatcu
* [[Frank Murkowski]], incumbent Governor since 2003
* [[Sarah Palin]], former mayor of [[Wasilla, Alaska|Wasilla]] (1996{{Endash}}2003) and chair of the [[Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission]] (2003{{Endash}}04)

Incumbent [[Frank Murkowski]] (R), first elected governor in 2002, ran for reelection but was defeated in a landslide in the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] primary by former Wasilla mayor [[Sarah Palin]] on August 22, 2006. Murkowski's approval rating at the time of the election was 19%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SurveyUSA {{!}} APPROVAL RATINGS FOR ALL 50 GOVERNORS AS OF 08/22/06 |url=http://www.surveyusa.com/50State2006/50StateGovernor060822State.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311032717/http://www.surveyusa.com/50State2006/50StateGovernor060822State.htm |archive-date=2007-03-11 |access-date=2005-07-18 |website=SurveyUSA |language=en-US}}</ref> Murkowski also faced opposition from former state lawmaker and [[Fairbanks, Alaska|Fairbanks]] businessman [[John Binkley]].

=== Results ===
{{Election box begin no change | title=2006 Republican primary for Alaska governor<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.alaska.gov/06prim/data/results.htm |access-date=February 11, 2010 |title=STATE OF ALASKA - 2006 PRIMARY ELECTION AUGUST 22, 2006 OFFICIAL RESULTS|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304115107/http://www.elections.alaska.gov/06prim/data/results.htm |archive-date=March 4, 2010 }}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
 |party = Republican Party of Alaska
 |candidate = [[Sarah Palin]]
 |Experience = [[Mayor of Wasilla]]
 |votes = 51,443
 |percentage = 50.59
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party = Republican Party of Alaska
 |candidate = [[John Binkley]]
 |votes = 30,349
 |percentage = 29.84
|
 |Experience = [[State Senator]]
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party = Republican Party of Alaska
 |candidate = [[Frank Murkowski]] (incumbent)
 |votes = 19,412
 |percentage = 19.09
|
 |Experience = Incumbent Governor
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party = Republican Party of Alaska
 |candidate = [[Gerald Heikes]]
 |votes = 280
 |percentage = 0.28
|
 |Experience = None
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party = Republican Party of Alaska
 |candidate = Merica Hlatcu
 |votes = 211
 |percentage = 0.21
|
 |Experience = None
 }}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes = 101,695
  |percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}

== Democratic primary ==

=== Candidates ===

* [[Eric Croft]], State Representative from [[Spenard, Anchorage|Spenard]], [[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]]
* [[Tony Knowles (politician)|Tony Knowles]], former Governor of Alaska (1994{{Endash}}2002)
* Bruce Lemke

Former two-term Governor [[Tony Knowles (politician)|Tony Knowles]] and state lawmaker [[Eric Croft]] competed for the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] ticket for governor. Knowles had a substantial lead over Croft, both at the polls and with fund raising.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}}

=== Results ===
{{Election box begin no change | title=2006 Democratic primary for Alaska governor<ref name=results>{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.alaska.gov/06prim/index.shtml |title=PRIMARY ELECTION August 22, 2006 Primary Election Results|access-date=February 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081127075004/http://www.elections.alaska.gov/06prim/index.shtml |archive-date=November 27, 2008 }}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
 |party = Alaska Democratic Party
 |candidate = [[Tony Knowles (politician)|Tony Knowles]]
 |Experience = Former Governor
 |votes = 37,316
 |percentage = 74.63
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party = Alaska Democratic Party
 |candidate = [[Eric Croft]]
 |votes = 11,952
 |percentage = 23.90
|
 |Experience = None
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party = Alaska Democratic Party
 |candidate = Bruce Lemke
 |votes = 732
 |percentage = 1.46
|
 |Experience = None
 }}
{{Election box total no change|
  |votes = 50,000
  |percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}

==General election==

=== Candidates ===

* [[Andrew Halcro]], president and CEO of [[Avis Car Rental|Avis Alaska]] and former State Representative from Anchorage (Independent)
* [[Tony Knowles (politician)|Tony Knowles]], former Governor of Alaska (1995{{Endash}}2003) (Democratic)
* David Massie (Green)
* [[Sarah Palin]], former mayor of [[Wasilla, Alaska|Wasilla]] (1996{{Endash}}2003) and chair of the [[Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission]] (2003{{Endash}}04) (Republican)
* Billy Toien, candidate for governor in 2002 (Libertarian)
* [[Don Wright (politician)|Don Wright]], bush pilot and perennial candidate (Alaska Independence)

===Campaign===
Republican candidate Sarah Palin, Democratic candidate Tony Knowles, and independent candidate Andrew Halcro faced each other in the general election. Anchorage businessman [[Andrew Halcro]] ran as an Independent in the race for governor. Halcro has served in the Alaska State legislature in the past, and is known as a fiscal hawk. Halcro collected about 4,000 signatures to be placed on the general election ballot without party affiliation. Despite Knowles' experience, Palin was able to win.

=== Predictions ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Source
! Ranking
! As of
|-
| align=left | [[The Cook Political Report]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=2006 Governor Race Ratings for November 6, 2006|url=https://cookpolitical.com/races/report_pdfs/2006_gov_ratings_nov6.pdf|website=The Cook Political Report|access-date=October 1, 2006|archive-date=June 5, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605094803/https://cookpolitical.com/races/report_pdfs/2006_gov_ratings_nov6.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
| November 6, 2006
|-
| align=left | [[Sabato's Crystal Ball]]<ref>{{cite web | title=Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS | url=https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/ljs2006110601/ | website=Sabato's Crystal Ball | date=November 6, 2006 | access-date=June 25, 2021}}</ref>
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}
| November 6, 2006
|-
| align=left | [[Stuart Rothenberg|Rothenberg Political Report]]<ref>{{cite web | title=2006 Gubernatorial Ratings | url=https://www.insideelections.com/ratings/governor/2006-gubernatorial-ratings | work=Senate Ratings | publisher=The Rothenberg Political Report | access-date=June 25, 2021}}</ref>
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}
| November 2, 2006
|-
| align=left | [[Real Clear Politics]]<ref>{{cite web | title=Election 2006 | url=https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/writeup/election_2006-21.html| publisher=Real Clear Politics | access-date=June 25, 2021}}</ref>
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}
| November 6, 2006
|}

===Polling===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! width=190px | Poll source
! width=130px | Date(s) administered
! width=100px | Sarah<br />Palin (R)
! width=100px | Tony<br />Knowles (D)
|-
| align=left |[[Rasmussen Reports|Rasmussen]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090107154332/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/October%202006/AlaskaGovernor1029.htm Rasmussen]</ref>
| November 3, 2006
| {{party shading/Republican}} | '''45%'''
| 44%
|-
| align=left |[[Rasmussen Reports|Rasmussen]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070423214653/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2FMembersOnly%2Fdaily+snapshot.htm Rasmussen]</ref>
| October 9, 2006
| {{party shading/Republican}} | '''47%'''
| 40%
|-
| align=left |[[Rasmussen Reports|Rasmussen]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060920021920/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/September%202006/AlaskaGovernor.htm Rasmussen]</ref>
| September 8, 2006
| {{party shading/Republican}} | '''52%'''
| 38%
|-
| align=left |[[Rasmussen Reports|Rasmussen]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060811023242/http://rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/August%202006/AlaskaGovernor.htm Rasmussen]</ref>
| August 3, 2006
| {{party shading/Republican}} | '''51%'''
| 38%
|-
| align=left |[[Ivan Moore Research]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060617130935/http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/06/the_big_number_1.html Ivan Moore Research]</ref>
| June 7, 2006
| 39%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | '''43%'''
|}

===Results===
{{Election box begin | title = 2006 Alaska gubernatorial election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = [[Sarah Palin]]
| votes = 114,697
| percentage = 48.33%
| change = −7.6%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = [[Tony Knowles (politician)|Tony Knowles]]
| votes = 97,238
| percentage = 40.97%
| change = +0.3%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
| party = Independent
| candidate = [[Andrew Halcro]]
| votes = 22,443
| percentage = 9.46%
| change = ''n/a''}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
| party = Alaskan Independence Party
| candidate = [[Don Wright (politician)|Don Wright]]
| votes = 1,285
| percentage = 0.54%
| change = −0.4%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
| party = Alaska Libertarian Party
| candidate = Billy Toien
| votes = 682
| percentage = 0.29%
| change = −0.2%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
| party = Green Party (United States)
| candidate = David Massie
| votes = 593
| percentage = 0.25%
| change = −1.0%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link|
| votes = 384
| percentage = 0.16%
| change = +0.1%}}
{{Election box plurality|
| votes = 17,459
| percentage = 7.36%
| change =}}
{{Election box turnout|
| votes = 238,307
| percentage = 51.1%
| change = }}
{{Election box hold with party link|
| winner = Republican Party (United States)
| swing = −7.6%}}
{{Election box end}}

==See also==
*[[2006 United States gubernatorial elections]]

==References==
<references/>
*Christiansen, Scott. [https://archive.today/20060113224455/http://www.anchoragepress.com/archives-2005/coverstoryvol14ed24.shtml Grooming the gov: Frank Murkowski seems to be in an endless battle with reporters. That may be just the way he likes it.] ''Anchorage Press''. June 22, 2005.
*Moore, Jason. [http://www.ktuu.com/CMS/anmviewer.asp?a=13835&z=4 Croft takes first step into governor's race]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. KTUU. June 16, 2005.
*[http://elect.alaska.net/data/results.htm State of Alaska Division of Elections results]

==External links==
*[http://gov.state.ak.us/ Office of the Governor of Alaska]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061028035152/http://www.palinforgovernor.com/ Sarah Palin for Governor]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060222004933/http://www.ericcroft.com/ Eric Croft for Governor]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060203173632/http://ethanberkowitz.com/ Ethan Berkowitz for Lt. Governor]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061031100220/http://tonyknowles.com/ Tony Knowles for Governor]

{{Alaska gubernatorial elections}}
{{2006 United States elections}}
{{Notable third party performances in United States elections}}
{{Sarah Palin}}

[[Category:Alaska gubernatorial elections|2006]]
[[Category:2006 Alaska elections|Governor]]
[[Category:2006 United States gubernatorial elections|Alaska]]
[[Category:Sarah Palin]]
[[Category:November 2006 in the United States]]