# 2022 Alaska gubernatorial election

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The 2022 Alaska gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Alaska. Incumbent Republican governor Mike Dunleavy won re-election to a second term, becoming the first Republican governor to be re-elected to a second term since Jay Hammond in 1978 and the first governor, regardless of political affiliation, to be re-elected to a second term since Tony Knowles in 1998.
Following voter approval of Ballot Measure 2 during the 2020 Alaska elections, this was the first gubernatorial election in Alaska held under the new election process. All candidates ran in a nonpartisan blanket top-four primary on August 16, 2022, and the top four candidates advanced to the general election.
In addition to Dunleavy, Democratic former state representative Les Gara, Independent former governor Bill Walker, and Republican Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor Charlie Pierce advanced to the general election. In the general election, Dunleavy received the majority of votes in the first round, preventing an instant runoff.

## Primary election
### Republican Party
#### Advanced to general

* Mike Dunleavy, incumbent governor
** Running mate: Nancy Dahlstrom, former commissioner of the Alaska Department of Corrections and former state representative
** Previous running mate: Kevin Meyer, incumbent lieutenant governor (withdrew December 28, 2021)
* Charlie Pierce, Mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough
** Running mate: Edie Grunwald, chair of the Alaska Parole Board and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2018

#### Eliminated in primary

* David Haeg, hunting guide
** Waynette Coleman, nurse
* Christopher Kurka, state representative
** Running mate: Paul Hueper, activist
* Bruce Walden, veteran and author
** Running mate: Tanya Lange, social service worker

#### Declined

* Natasha von Imhof, state senator

### Democratic Party
#### Advanced to general

* Les Gara, former state representative
** Running mate: Jessica Cook, teacher

#### Declined

* Mike Navarre, former mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough and former state representative (endorsed Walker)

### Libertarian Party
#### Eliminated in primary

* William S. "Billy" Toien, nominee for governor in 2010 and 2018
** Running mate: Shirley Rainbolt

### Alaskan Independence Party
#### Eliminated in primary

* John Howe, machinist and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2020
** Running mate: Shellie Wyatt

### Independents
#### Advanced to general

* Bill Walker, former governor
** Running mate: Heidi Drygas, former commissioner of the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development

#### Eliminated in primary

* William Nemec, former Denali Borough Assembly member
** Running mate: Ronnie Ostrem

#### Declined

* Alyse Galvin, public education advocate and candidate for Alaska's at-large congressional district in 2018 and 2020 (running for state house)
* Al Gross, orthopedic surgeon, commercial fisherman, son of former Alaska Attorney General Avrum Gross, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020 (ran for U.S. House)

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Mike Dunleavy (R) | Les Gara (D) | Charlie Pierce (R) | Bill Walker (I) | Other | Undecided |
| Alaska Survey Research | July 20–25, 2022 | 1,253 (LV) | ± 3.0% | 41% | 22% | 5% | 23% | 9% | – |
| Lake Research Partners (D) | May 5–11, 2022 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 40% | 24% | 5% | 18% | 3% | 10% |

### Results

Primary election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Dunleavy (incumbent)Nancy Dahlstrom | 76,534 | 40.43 |
| | Democratic | Les GaraJessica Cook | 43,660 | 23.06 |
| | Independent | Bill WalkerHeidi Drygas | 43,111 | 22.77 |
| | Republican | Charlie PierceEdie Grunwald | 12,458 | 6.58 |
| | Republican | Christopher KurkaPaul Hueper | 7,307 | 3.86 |
| | Independence | John HoweShellie Wyatt | 1,702 | 0.90 |
| | Republican | Bruce WaldenTanya Lange | 1,661 | 0.88 |
| | Libertarian | William S. ToienShirley Rainbolt | 1,381 | 0.73 |
| | Republican | David HaegWaynette Coleman | 1,139 | 0.60 |
| | Independent | William NemecRonnie Ostrem | 347 | 0.18 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 188,626 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Likely R | July 26, 2022 |
| Inside Elections | Likely R | July 22, 2022 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Likely R | June 29, 2022 |
| Politico | Likely R | April 1, 2022 |
| RCP | Likely R | January 10, 2022 |
| Fox News | Likely R | May 12, 2022 |
| 538 | Likely R | August 25, 2022 |
| Elections Daily | Likely R | November 7, 2022 |

### Debates

2022 Alaska gubernatorial debates :
| No. | Date | Host | Link | Participants | Participants | Participants | Participants |
| P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | | | | |
| P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | Mike Dunleavy | Bill Walker | Les Gara | Charlie Pierce |
| 1 | October 11, 2022 | Civic and Convention Center | | P | P | P | P |

### Endorsements

U.S. Executive Branch officials
* Donald Trump, 45th president of the United States (2017–2021)
U.S. senators
* Dan Sullivan, U.S. senator from Alaska (2015–present)
Statewide officials
* Sarah Palin, 9th governor of Alaska (2006–2009), candidate for Alaska's at-large congressional district in 2022 and Republican nominee for vice president in 2008
* Kelly Tshibaka, former commissioner of the Alaska Department of Administration (2019–2021) and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2022
State legislators
* Jay Ramras, former state representative (2005–2011)
Local officials
* Dave Bronson, Mayor of Anchorage (2021–present)
* Dan Sullivan, former mayor of Anchorage (2009–2015)
Organizations
* Alaska Republican Party (co-endorsed with Pierce)
* NRA Political Victory Fund
Statewide officials
* Jane Angvik, former Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Commerce and Economic Development and former Anchorage Assembly member (1979–1985)
* Tony Knowles, former governor of Alaska (1994–2002)
State legislators
* Vic Fischer, former state senator and drafter of the Alaska Constitution
Organizations
* Planned Parenthood
Individuals
* Joe Miller, former U.S. magistrate judge (2002–2004) and former candidate for U.S. Senate in 2010 and 2016
State legislators
* Lora Reinbold, state senator (2019–present) and state representative (2013–2019)
Organizations
* Alaska Republican Party (co-endorsed with Dunleavy)
State legislators
* Cathy Giessel, former president of the Alaska Senate (Republican)
* Grier Hopkins, state representative (Democratic)
* Andy Josephson, state representative (2017–present) (Democratic)
* Beth Kerttula, former state representative (1999–2014) (Democratic)
* Ivy Spohnholz, state representative (Democratic)
* Adam Wool, state representative (Democratic)
Local officials
* Bruce Botelho, former mayor of Juneau (2003–2012) and former Alaska Attorney General (1988–1991) (Democratic)
* Santa Claus, mayor pro tem of North Pole and candidate for Alaska's at-large congressional district in the 2022 special election (Independent)
* Mike Navarre, former Mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough (1996–1999, 2011–2017) and former state representative (1985–1996) (Democratic)
Individuals
* Vince Beltrami, former president of the AFL–CIO
Labor unions
* Alaska AFL–CIO
* American Federation of Teachers - Alaska
* National Education Association - Alaska
Organizations
* Sealaska Corporation
State legislators
* Rick Halford, former president of the Alaska Senate (Republican)
Individuals
* Al Gross, orthopedic surgeon, commercial fisherman, son of former Alaska Attorney General Avrum Gross, Democratic-endorsed nominee for U.S. Senate in 2020, and withdrawn candidate for Alaska's at-large congressional district in the 2022 special and regular elections (Independent)

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | RCV count | Mike Dunleavy (R) | Les Gara (D) | Charlie Pierce (R) | Bill Walker (I) | Undecided / Not Ranked |
| Dittman Research | October 21–25, 2022 | 403 (LV) | – | 1 | 47% | 25% | 4% | 23% | — |
| Dittman Research | October 21–25, 2022 | 403 (LV) | – | 2 | 51% | 25% | Elim | 24% | — |
| Alaska Survey Research | September 25–27, 2022 | 1,282 (LV) | ± 3.0% |
| Alaska Survey Research | September 25–27, 2022 | 1,282 (LV) | ± 3.0% | 1 | 43% | 28% | 7% | 21% | — |
| Alaska Survey Research | September 25–27, 2022 | 1,282 (LV) | ± 3.0% | 2 | 48% | 28% | Elim | 23% | — |
| Alaska Survey Research | September 25–27, 2022 | 1,282 (LV) | ± 3.0% | 3 | 53% | 47% | Elim | Elim | — |
| Alaska Survey Research | September 25–27, 2022 | 1,282 (LV) | ± 3.0% | 3* | 52% | Elim | Elim | 48% | — |
| Fabrizio Ward (R)/Impact Research (D) | September 6–11, 2022 | 1,050 (LV) | | N/A | 45% | 24% | 6% | 17% | 8% U |
| Fabrizio Ward (R)/Impact Research (D) | September 6–11, 2022 | 1,050 (LV) | | 1 | 49% | 26% | 7% | 19% | 8% NR |
| Fabrizio Ward (R)/Impact Research (D) | September 6–11, 2022 | 1,050 (LV) | | 2 | 54% | 26% | Elim | 20% | 10% NR |
| Fabrizio Ward (R)/Impact Research (D) | September 6–11, 2022 | 1,050 (LV) | | 3 | 59% | 41% | Elim | Elim | 13% NR |
| Alaska Survey Research | July 2–5, 2022 | 1,201 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 1 | 44% | 26% | 11% | 20% | — |
| Alaska Survey Research | July 2–5, 2022 | 1,201 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 2 | 51% | 26% | Elim | 23% | — |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | RCV count | Mike Dunleavy (R) | Les Gara (D) | Natasha von Imhof (R) | Bill Walker (I) | Undecided |
| Alaska Survey Research | October 22–27, 2021 | 969 (RV) | ± 3.2% | 1 | 43% | 22% | 8% | 28% | — |
| Alaska Survey Research | October 22–27, 2021 | 969 (RV) | ± 3.2% | 2 | 46% | 24% | Elim | 30% | — |
| Alaska Survey Research | October 22–27, 2021 | 969 (RV) | ± 3.2% | 3 | 49% | Elim | Elim | 51% | — |
Mike Dunleavy vs. Les Gara
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Mike Dunleavy (R) | Les Gara (D) | Undecided |
| Hays Research Group (I) | July 22–24, 2022 | 613 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 55% | 45% | — |
Mike Dunleavy vs. Bill Walker
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Mike Dunleavy (R) | Bill Walker (I) | Undecided |
| Hays Research Group (I) | July 22–24, 2022 | 613 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 50% | 50% | — |

### Results

2022 Alaska gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Mike Dunleavy (incumbent)Nancy Dahlstrom | 132,632 | 50.29% | −1.15% |
| | Democratic | Les GaraJessica Cook | 63,851 | 24.21% | −20.20% |
| | Independent | Bill WalkerHeidi Drygas | 54,668 | 20.73% | +18.70% |
| | Republican | Charlie PierceEdie Grunwald (withdrew) | 11,817 | 4.48% | N/A |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 784 | 0.30% | +0.09% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 263,752 | 100.0% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 266,943 | 44.40% | −5.43% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 601,161 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

#### Boroughs and census areas that flipped from Democratic to Republican

* Anchorage
* Kodiak Island (largest city: Kodiak Island)
* Bristol Bay Borough (largest city: Naknek)
* Lake & Peninsula Borough (largest city: Newhalen)
* Aleutians West Census Area (largest city: Unalaska)
* Aleutians East Borough (largest city: Akutan)
* Bethel Census Area (largest city: Bethel)
* Dilingham Census Area (largest city: Dilingham)
* North Slope Borough (largest city: Utqiaġvik)
* Northwest Arctic Borough (largest city: Kotzebue)
* Kusilvak Census Area (largest city: Hooper Bay)
* Nome Census Area (largest city: Nome)
* Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area (largest city: Fort Yukon)
* Prince of Wales–Hyder Census Area (largest city: Craig)
* Petersburg

#### Boroughs and census areas that flipped from Democratic to Independent

* Juneau
* Sitka
* Hoonah–Angoon Census Area (largest town: Hoonah)
* Haines Borough (largest census-designated place: Haines)
* Yakutat