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‹ 2002  2010 ›
Alaska gubernatorial election, 2006
November 7, 2006
Nominee		Sarah Palin	Tony Knowles
Party		Republican	Democratic
Popular vote		114,697	97,238
Percentage		48.33%	40.97%
Election results by boroughs
Incumbent Governor Frank Murkowski Republican Governor-elect Sarah Palin Republican

Elections in Alaska
Federal government Presidential Elections 2000 · 2004 · 2008 Presidential caucuses Democratic: 2008 Republican: 2008 United States Senate Elections 1980 · 1998 · 2002 · 2004 · 2008 · 2010 United States House Elections 2006 · 2008 · 2010
State government Gubernatorial elections 1994 · 1998 · 2002 · 2006 · 2010 Other State Elections 2006
Other elections Ballot measures Alaska Clean Water Initiative, 2008 Juneau elections 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 This box: view • talk • edit

The 2006 Alaska gubernatorial general election took place on November 7, 2006. The former mayor of Wasilla, Sarah Palin, was elected governor.

Republican primary

Incumbent Frank Murkowski (R), first elected governor in 2002, ran for reelection but was defeated in a landslide in the Republican primary by former Wasilla mayor Sarah Palin on August 22, 2006. Murkowski's approval rating at the time of the election was 19%. Murkowski also faced opposition from former state lawmaker and Fairbanks businessman John Binkley.

Democratic primary

Former two-term Governor Tony Knowles and state lawmaker Eric Croft competed for the Democratic ticket for governor. Knowles had a substantial lead over Croft, both at the polls and with fundraising.

Third party candidates

Alaskan Independence Party

• Don Wright - bush pilot, '02 gubernatorial nominee

Green Party

• David Massie

Libertarian Party

• Billy Toien - '02 gubernatorial nominee

Independents

• Andrew Halcro - Former Republican state representative, businessman

General election

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's charisma and conservatism was able to win her first statewide election.

Polling

Results

See also

• United States gubernatorial elections, 2006

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "House District 37 Recount Results". http://www.elections.alaska.gov/06prim/index.shtml.  

• Christiansen, Scott. 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. Croft takes first step into governor's race. KTUU. June 16, 2005.
• State of Alaska Division of Elections results

External links

• Office of the Governor of Alaska
• Sarah Palin for Governor
• Eric Croft for Governor
• Ethan Berkowitz for Lt. Governor
• Tony Knowles for Governor

Sarah Palin Political office Early political career · Governor of Alaska · Resignation as Governor  · Political positions Campaigns Electoral history · Alaska gubernatorial election, 2006 · McCain-Palin 2008 Media coverage Public image and reception · Katie Couric interviews Family Todd Palin (husband) · Bristol Palin (daughter) · Levi Johnston (father of grandson) Books and other media Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment Upside Down · Going Rogue: An American Life · Going Rouge: Sarah Palin An American Nightmare · Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime · Saturday Night Live parodies of Sarah Palin · Who's Nailin' Paylin? Related articles Alaska Public Safety Commissioner dismissal · Gravina Island Bridge · Sarah Palin email hack · The Masked Avengers' prank on Sarah Palin