Election 2022

Bill Walker, left, Bill Sheffield, center and Frank Murkowski are among the majority of Alaska governors who failed to win a second term for reasons ranging from unpopularity to scandals. (Credits: Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photos and Al Grillo / AP)

Alaska usually not big on second chances for governors

State has reelected executives at lowest rate in the nation.

 

An array of stickers awaits voters on Election Day 2022. With votes tallied and certified, the Empire reviewed how Juneau and nearby communities voted precinct by precinct. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

With the ballots counted, here’s how our districts voted

A post-certification precinct-by-precinct breakdown of statewide race results.

 

Gavel (Courtesy photo)

Maassen named new chief justice of Alaska Supreme Court

Longtime private attorney appointed to court in 2012 expects to continue predecessor’s approach.

 

The ranked choice outcome for Alaska’s U.S. Senate race is shown during an Alaska Public Media broadcast on Thursday. Incumbent Lisa Murkowski defeated fellow Republican Kelly Tshibaka by getting more than 50% of votes when two lower-finishing candidates were eliminated, with votes from people opting for Democrat Pat Chesbro as their first choice providing the necessary margin. Murkowski supporters note she won more first-choice votes than Tshibaka and thus would have prevailed without ranked choice voting, while Tshibaka supporters claim the challenger would have prevailed back in August under a closed-primary system and thus almost certainly would have won the general election. (Alaska Division of Elections)

Voting far from over for ranked choice

Alaska certain to revive the debate during coming months as many nationwide hail it as a success.

The ranked choice outcome for Alaska’s U.S. Senate race is shown during an Alaska Public Media broadcast on Thursday. Incumbent Lisa Murkowski defeated fellow Republican Kelly Tshibaka by getting more than 50% of votes when two lower-finishing candidates were eliminated, with votes from people opting for Democrat Pat Chesbro as their first choice providing the necessary margin. Murkowski supporters note she won more first-choice votes than Tshibaka and thus would have prevailed without ranked choice voting, while Tshibaka supporters claim the challenger would have prevailed back in August under a closed-primary system and thus almost certainly would have won the general election. (Alaska Division of Elections)
Alaska Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai shows the ranked choice tabulation for the U.S. House race Wednesday afternoon in Juneau. Democratic incumbent Mary Peltola prevailed over Republican former Gov. Sarah Palin by a final tally of 54.9% to 45.1% after lower-finishing candidates Republican Nick Begich III amd Libertarian Chris Bye were eliminated during the first two rounds of instant choice runoffs. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Update: Incumbents secure reelection in statewide races

Ranked choice results mean legislative leadership future is unclear.

Alaska Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai shows the ranked choice tabulation for the U.S. House race Wednesday afternoon in Juneau. Democratic incumbent Mary Peltola prevailed over Republican former Gov. Sarah Palin by a final tally of 54.9% to 45.1% after lower-finishing candidates Republican Nick Begich III amd Libertarian Chris Bye were eliminated during the first two rounds of instant choice runoffs. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The final election results, including ranked choice votes, will be tallied starting at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Alaska Division of Election’s director’s office. The tally will be covered live by the Juneau Empire, as well as broadcast live by other media including KTOO. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Ranked choice winners to be revealed Wednesday

Little drama expected in U.S. House and Senate races, but state legislative leadership a toss-up

The final election results, including ranked choice votes, will be tallied starting at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Alaska Division of Election’s director’s office. The tally will be covered live by the Juneau Empire, as well as broadcast live by other media including KTOO. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski talks to supporters during a campaign event at Louie’s Douglas Inn on Oct. 12. The incumbent on Friday took the lead over fellow Republican Kelly Tshibaka following the Nov. 8 election, as absentee and questioned ballots from Southeast Alaska voters helped Murkowski overcome an initial deficit on Election Night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Murkowski pulls ahead of Tshibaka in latest election results

Southeast Alaska voters give U.S. Senate incumbent the lead; Peltola, Duneavy also solidify grasps

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski talks to supporters during a campaign event at Louie’s Douglas Inn on Oct. 12. The incumbent on Friday took the lead over fellow Republican Kelly Tshibaka following the Nov. 8 election, as absentee and questioned ballots from Southeast Alaska voters helped Murkowski overcome an initial deficit on Election Night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Pat Tynan, left, and Tom Melville, review absentee ballots Tuesday at the Division of Elections office at the Mendenhall Mall. The review process is taking place in a separate room from where ballots are being tallied for the official results.

Incumbents solidify positions in updated election count

Peltola, Murkowski and Dunleavy likely to prevail when ranked choice ballots are tallied Nov. 23

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Pat Tynan, left, and Tom Melville, review absentee ballots Tuesday at the Division of Elections office at the Mendenhall Mall. The review process is taking place in a separate room from where ballots are being tallied for the official results.
Stickers for people who’ve voted await Juneau residents at a polling site Tuesday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Juneau voters opt for Walker, Peltola and Murkowski

Here’s how we voted.

Stickers for people who’ve voted await Juneau residents at a polling site Tuesday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Former Gov. Sarah Palin, a Republican candidate for Alaska’s sole seat in the U.S. House, meets with supporters waving signs on Tuesday in Anchorage. Palin, who is trailing Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola in the vote count so far, nonetheless is declaring herself the presumptive winner and has named a chief of staff — despite also claiming the election was rigged against her. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Alaska’s Trump-backed candidates take different post-election tracks

Dunleavy’s reelection all but official, while Tshibaka and Palin prepare to fight over “shenanigans”

Former Gov. Sarah Palin, a Republican candidate for Alaska’s sole seat in the U.S. House, meets with supporters waving signs on Tuesday in Anchorage. Palin, who is trailing Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola in the vote count so far, nonetheless is declaring herself the presumptive winner and has named a chief of staff — despite also claiming the election was rigged against her. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
State Sen. Jesse Kiehl of Juneau, right, and lifelong Juneau resident Andrea Ebona Michel monitor election returns Tuesday night at a watch party hosted by U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola’a campaign at McGivney’s Sports Bar Grill downtown. Kiehl, a Democrat, was the lone state senator who was unopposed in his race. Both of Juneau’s Democratic state House representatives also won reelection. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Alaskans embrace red, blue and wait

Voters lean both left and right, with a lot to be decided in two weeks, in ranked choice election

State Sen. Jesse Kiehl of Juneau, right, and lifelong Juneau resident Andrea Ebona Michel monitor election returns Tuesday night at a watch party hosted by U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola’a campaign at McGivney’s Sports Bar Grill downtown. Kiehl, a Democrat, was the lone state senator who was unopposed in his race. Both of Juneau’s Democratic state House representatives also won reelection. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A cable network television broadcast displays information during the evening on the Pennsylvania Senate race with Democrat John Fetterman and Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz, at a hotel, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo / Alex Brandon)

GOP inches toward U.S. House win; Senate could hinge on runoff

WASHINGTON — Republicans inched closer to a narrow House majority Wednesday, while control of the Senate hinged on a few tight races in a midterm… Continue reading

A cable network television broadcast displays information during the evening on the Pennsylvania Senate race with Democrat John Fetterman and Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz, at a hotel, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo / Alex Brandon)
This photo shows a sample ballot asking whether First Judicial District judges should be retained. Based on results released Tuesday and Wednesday, voters on Election Day overwhelmingly voted for retention. (Ben Hohesntatt / Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s judges heading toward retention along large margins

Outcomes much closer in the state’s Third Judicial District.

This photo shows a sample ballot asking whether First Judicial District judges should be retained. Based on results released Tuesday and Wednesday, voters on Election Day overwhelmingly voted for retention. (Ben Hohesntatt / Juneau Empire)
Claire Richardson, director of constituent services for U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, offers a toast at a watch party McGivney’s Sports Bar & Grill as the incumbent emerges with a strong lead on Election Night. But Richardson said the state’s new ranked choice voting makes it likely the winner won’t be known until second- and third-choice ballots are tallied Nov. 23. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Update: Ranked choice seems set to decide congressional races

More to come, but no set schedule, per Division of Elections.

Claire Richardson, director of constituent services for U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, offers a toast at a watch party McGivney’s Sports Bar & Grill as the incumbent emerges with a strong lead on Election Night. But Richardson said the state’s new ranked choice voting makes it likely the winner won’t be known until second- and third-choice ballots are tallied Nov. 23. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Democrat Wes Moore, his wife Dawn, and their children, react after Moore was declared the winner of the Maryland gubernatorial race, in Baltimore, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. (AP Photo / Bryan Woolston)

GOP, Democrats notch victories in competitive midterm races

WASHINGTON — Control of Congress hung in the balance early Wednesday, with both parties notching victories in some of the most competitive races in a… Continue reading

Democrat Wes Moore, his wife Dawn, and their children, react after Moore was declared the winner of the Maryland gubernatorial race, in Baltimore, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. (AP Photo / Bryan Woolston)
A sign directs early voters to the polling station at the Mendenhall Mall on Monday. The mall is one of two early voting locations in Juneau, but more than a dozen polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Election Day is finally here

Many winners of Alaska’s first ranked-choice general election won’t be known until Thanksgiving

A sign directs early voters to the polling station at the Mendenhall Mall on Monday. The mall is one of two early voting locations in Juneau, but more than a dozen polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Voters cast their ballots at a polling station in Derry, N.H., on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. (AP Photo / Charles Krupa)

Vocabulary of voting: A glossary guide to the 2022 midterms

From “advance voting” to “too close to call.”

Voters cast their ballots at a polling station in Derry, N.H., on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. (AP Photo / Charles Krupa)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire A variety of fliers with varying amounts of accuracy from candidates and groups are filling mailboxes leading up to the Nov. 8 general election. TV and other ads also range from pure nonsense to completely accurate, although many fall into the “true from a certain point of view” category.

Fact-checking political advertisements

What’s accurate, what’s nonesense and what’s “true from a certain point of view”

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire A variety of fliers with varying amounts of accuracy from candidates and groups are filling mailboxes leading up to the Nov. 8 general election. TV and other ads also range from pure nonsense to completely accurate, although many fall into the “true from a certain point of view” category.
Jessica Cook, right, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor in Tuesday’s election, shows plans for her visit to Juneau to supporter Monica Southworth at the downtown Heritage Coffee on Friday afternoon. Cook, visiting town Thursday and Friday, was hoping to meet volunteers there to distribute “turf packets” that would assign them neighborhoods for last-minute door-to-door campaigning, but none showed up. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Cooking up the campaign’s final days

Candidates and supporters plot door-knocking, phone-banking and sign-waving for last-minute frenzy.

Jessica Cook, right, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor in Tuesday’s election, shows plans for her visit to Juneau to supporter Monica Southworth at the downtown Heritage Coffee on Friday afternoon. Cook, visiting town Thursday and Friday, was hoping to meet volunteers there to distribute “turf packets” that would assign them neighborhoods for last-minute door-to-door campaigning, but none showed up. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski prepares to meet officials at the Sealaska Heritage Institute during a visit to Juneau on Tuesday. She was planning to visit the city on Wednesday, but moved up and rescheduled much of her trip when a stop in Bethel was cancelled due to weather concerns. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Murkowski seeks capital opportunities amid election storm

Senator discusses energy, earmarks and last-minute campaigning during unscheduled stop in Juneau.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski prepares to meet officials at the Sealaska Heritage Institute during a visit to Juneau on Tuesday. She was planning to visit the city on Wednesday, but moved up and rescheduled much of her trip when a stop in Bethel was cancelled due to weather concerns. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)