1990 Alaska gubernatorial election
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Elections in Alaska |
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The 1990 Alaska gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1990 for the open seat of Governor of Alaska. In 1989, incumbent Governor Steve Cowper, a Democrat, had announced that he would not seek re-election for a second term.[1]
In a rare third-party win in American politics, former Republican Governor Walter Hickel, running on the ticket of the Alaskan Independence Party, defeated Democratic candidate Tony Knowles and Republican candidate Arliss Sturgulewski.
Candidates
Democratic Party
The major Democratic candidates were Tony Knowles, former mayor of Anchorage (from 1981 to 1987) and future governor (from 1994 to 2002), and incumbent Lieutenant Governor Stephen McAlpine, who had served since 1982. Knowles defeated McAlpine in the Democratic primary.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tony Knowles | 36,019 | 56.05 | |
Democratic | Stephen McAlpine | 27,656 | 43.07 | |
Democratic | Ryal White | 586 | 0.91 | |
Majority | 8,363 | 12.98% | ||
Total votes | 64,261 | 100.00 |
Republican Party
In the Republican primary, state senator Arliss Sturgulewski, who was also the Republican nominee in 1986, defeated Jim Campbell, Rick Halford, and Don Wright.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Arliss Sturgulewski | 26,906 | 36.44 | |
Republican | Jim Campbell | 23,442 | 31.75 | |
Republican | Rick Halford | 22,466 | 30.43 | |
Republican | Don Wright | 1,025 | 1.39 | |
Majority | 3,464 | 4.69% | ||
Total votes | 73,839 | 100.00 |
Alaskan Independence Party
The initial Alaskan Independence Party candidate was John Lindauer, who won the primary. However, many conservative Republicans, dissatisfied with Sturgulewski's positions on social issues such as abortion, persuaded former Republican Governor Walter Hickel to run on the Alaskan Independence ticket. The party pushed Lindauer aside to make way for Hickel and lieutenant gubernatorial candidate Jack Coghill.
Results
Former Governor Walter Hickel defeated Knowles, Sturgulewski, and other minor candidates to return to the governor's office.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independence | Walter Hickel | 75,721 | 38.88 | +33.3 | |
Democratic | Tony Knowles | 60,201 | 30.91 | −16.4 | |
Republican | Arliss Sturgulewski | 50,991 | 26.18 | −16.4 | |
Green | Jim Sykes | 6,563 | 3.37 | N/A | |
The Political Party | Michael O'Callaghan | 942 | 0.48 | N/A | |
Write-in votes | 332 | 0.17 | −3.8 | ||
Majority | 15,520 | 7.97 | +3.3 | ||
Turnout | 194,750 | ||||
Independence gain from Democratic | Swing | -49.70 |
References
- ^ Hanlon, Tegan (2015-10-27). "Former Alaska first lady Michael Margaret Stewart, ex-wife of Steve Cowper, dead at 62". Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
- ^ a b "1990 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results – Alaska" (PDF). Alaska Division of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 September 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-31.
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