Alaska State Senate elections, 2012
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Alaska's 2012 elections U.S. House • State Senate • State House • State ballot measures • Candidate ballot access |
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Elections for the office of Alaska State Senate consisted of a Primary Election on August 28, 2012 and a General Election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 1, 2012. The withdrawal deadline for a candidate to remove their name from the August 28 ballot was July 11, 2012.
A total of 19 seats were up for election in 2012, with only one seat not up for election. In Alaska, senators serve four-year terms with no term limits.
Incumbents retiring
No incumbents retired in 2012.
Majority control
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Heading into the November 6 election, the majority was split in the Alaska State Senate:
| Alaska State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 10 | 7 | |
| Republican Party | 10 | 13 | |
| Total | 20 | 20 | |
Game-changers
Alaska State Senate: The State Senate was in the unique position of being equally split between Democrats and Republicans, with each party holding 10 seats. Republicans controlled the redistricting process, increasing the likelihood that they would gain control of the Upper Chamber in 2012.[1] Republicans did ultimately take the majority after the 2012 election with a 13-7 split in the senate.
Primaries
Senate
- In District 13(M) incumbent Bettye Davis defeated Harry Crawford, Jr. in the Democratic primary. The winner, Davis, was defeated by incumbent Anna Fairclough (R) in the general election.
House
- Incumbent Pete Petersen defeated Lynette Moreno Hinz in the Democratic primary in District 25. The winner, Peterson, was defeated by incumbent Republican Lance Pruitt in the general election.
- In District 33, incumbent Peggy Wilson (R) defeated Patricia Mackey and Agnes Moran. Wilson went on to defeat incumbent Kyle Johansen (I) and challenger Matt Olsen (D) in the general election.
General election
Senate
- In District 1(A), Joe Thomas (D) was defeated by John Coghill, Jr. (R).
- In District 17(Q), Albert Kookesh (D) was defeated by Bert Stedman (R).
House
- In District 2, incumbent Democrat Bob Miller was defeated by Republican Tammie Wilson.
- In District 38, incumbent David Guttenberg (D) defeated incumbent Alan S. Dick (R).
Campaign contributions
This chart shows how many candidates ran for state senate in Alaska in past years and the cumulative amount of campaign contributions in state senate races, including contributions in both primary and general election contests. All figures come from Follow The Money.[2]
| Year | Number of candidates | Total contributions |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 19 | $1,227,692 |
| 2008 | 19 | $863,330 |
| 2006 | 24 | $1,560,798 |
| 2004 | 28 | $1,867,581 |
| 2002 | 41 | $2,196,193 |
During the 2010 election, the total contributions to the 19 Senate candidates was $1,227,692. The top 10 contributors were:[3]
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Dziubinski, Philip L | $153,806 |
| Higgins, Pete | $45,410 |
| Moronell, Mark W | $39,162 |
| Alaska Republican Party | $28,450 |
| Giessel, Cathy | $27,535 |
| Giessel, Catherin A (Cathy) | $18,125 |
| Alaska Association of Realtors | $15,800 |
| Senate Democratic Campaign Cmte of Alaska | $15,000 |
| Alaska State Employees Association Local 52 | $13,000 |
| Alaska Laborers Local 341 | $12,000 |
Qualifications
Article II, Section 2 of the Alaska Constitution states: A member of the legislature shall be a qualified voter who has been a resident of Alaska for at least three years and of the district from which elected for at least one year, immediately preceding his filing for office. A senator shall be at least twenty-five years of age and a representative at least twenty-one years of age.
Impact of redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Alaska
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Alaska's population increased from 627,000 to 710,000 between 2000 and 2010.[4] Census data showed slowing growth for Alaska compared to previous decades. Although the state showed the fifteenth highest growth rate in the nation, about 13.3 percent, this was the lowest growth rate for Alaska in 80 years. Natural increase in the existing population accounted for over 66,000 new residents and migration accounted for a decrease of about 1,368 residents.[5]
Ordinarily, half (10) of Alaska's senators would be up for election in 2012, and half would be up for election in 2014 because senators serve staggered four-year terms. However, in 2012, every senator except Dennis Egan (D) faced re-election due to changes resulting from state legislative redistricting. Senators scheduled for the 2014 election were elected to two-year terms in 2012, preserving Alaska's staggered Senate elections.
The initially approved maps were federally precleared under the Voting Rights Act but struck by the Alaska Supreme Court for failure to comply with processes required by the state constitution. The court issued interim maps for the 2012 elections that reconfigured five House and two Senate districts in southeast Alaska, which were struck by a state court but restored for use in the 2012 elections. The court order stated, "While the reconfigured districts may comply with the redistricting criteria of article VI, section 6, of the Alaska constitution, there is a risk that the United States Department of Justice would decline to pre-clear them under the Voting Rights Act."[6]After the 2012 elections, the state court ordered new maps to be drawn. According to Anchorage Daily News, the "Redistricting Board justified its deviations from the state Constitution to preserve Native voting power in conformance with the U.S. Voting Rights Act."[7]The Alaska Redistricting Board adopted the final redistricting plan in July 2013 and a state court approved the plan in December 2013.[8]
List of Candidates
District 1 (A)
August 28 Democratic primary:
- Joe Thomas
Incumbent Thomas first assumed office in 2007.
- Joe Thomas
August 28 Republican primary:
- John Coghill, Jr. Incumbent Coghill first assumed office in 2009.
- John Coghill, Jr.
November 6 General election candidates:
- Joe Thomas: 6,175
- John Coghill, Jr.: 9,464
District 2 (B)
- August 28 Democratic primary:
- Joe Paskvan Incumbent Paskavan first assumed office in 2009.
- Joe Paskvan
- August 28 Republican primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
- Joe Paskvan: 5,249
- Pete Kelly: 6,232
District 3 (C)
- August 28 Democratic primary:
- August 28 Republican primary:
- Click Bishop: 2,679
- Ralph Seekins: 1,768
- David Eastman: 1,246
- Click Bishop: 2,679
Note: Bill Ward filed for election, but withdrew prior to the primary.[9]
November 6 General election candidates:
- Anne Sudkamp: 4,074
- Click Bishop: 10,051
District 4 (D)
- August 28 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- August 28 Republican primary:
- Linda Menard: 2,078 - Incumbent Menard first assumed office in 2009.
- Mike Dunleavy: 2,802
November 6 General election candidates:
- Mike Dunleavy: 11,724
District 5 (E)
- August 28 Democratic primary:
- August 28 Republican primary:
- Charlie Huggins Incumbent Huggins first assumed office in 2004.
- Charlie Huggins
November 6 General election candidates:
- Susan Parsons Herman: 2,790
- Charlie Huggins: 9,828
District 6 (F)
- August 28 Democratic primary:
Note: Daniel Elliott filed to run for election, but withdrew prior to the primary.[9]
- August 28 Republican primary:
- Fred Dyson Incumbent Dyson first assumed office in 2003.
- Fred Dyson
November 6 General election candidates:
- Martin J. Lindeke: 3,238
- Fred Dyson: 9,954
District 7 (G)
- August 28 Democratic primary:
- Bill Wielechowski Incumbent Wielechowski first assumed office in 2007.
- Bill Wielechowski
- August 28 Republican primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
- Bill Wielechowski: 6,378
- Bob Roses: 4,977
Note: Independent David G. Walker's nominating petition was denied.
District 8 (H)
- August 28 Democratic primary:
- August 28 Republican primary:
- Don Smith: 1,348
- Clint Hess: 883
- Don Smith: 1,348
November 6 General election candidates:
- Berta Gardner: 6,950
- Don Smith: 4,730
District 9 (I)
- August 28 Democratic primary:
- Johnny Ellis Incumbent Ellis first assumed office in 1993.
- Johnny Ellis
- August 28 Republican primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
- Johnny Ellis: 6,818
- Paul Kendall: 3,190
District 10 (J)
- August 28 Democratic primary:
- Hollis French, II Incumbent French first assumed office in 2003.
- Hollis French, II
- August 28 Republican primary:
- Bob Bell: 2,622
- Liz Vazquez: 1,710
- Bob Bell: 2,622
November 6 General election candidates:
- Hollis French, II: 7,605
- Bob Bell: 7,546
Note: On November 29, 2012, this contest was subject to a recount, of which the results appear above; the outcome was not affected.[10]
District 11 (K)
- August 28 Democratic primary:
- August 28 Republican primary:
- Jeff Landfield: 1,728
- Lesil McGuire: 2,203 Incumbent McGuire first assumed office in 2007.
Note: Rex Snyder filed to run for election, but withdrew prior to the primary.[9]
November 6 General election candidates:
- Roselynn Cacy: 4,694
- Lesil McGuire: 9,291
District 12 (L)
- August 28 Democratic primary:
- August 28 Republican primary:
- Kevin Meyer Incumbent Meyer first assumed office in 2009.
- Kevin Meyer
November 6 General election candidates:
- Jacob Hale: 3,894
- Kevin Meyer: 10,304
District 13 (M)
- August 28 Democratic primary:
- Bettye Davis: 1,442 Incumbent Davis first assumed office in 2001.
- Harry Crawford, Jr.: 1,305
- Bettye Davis: 1,442
- August 28 Republican primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
- Bettye Davis: 6,676
- Anna Fairclough: 11,012
District 14 (N)
- August 28 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- August 28 Republican primary:
- Catherine Giessel: 3,964 Incumbent Giessel first assumed office in 2011.
- Joe Arness: 1,878
- Catherine Giessel: 3,964
November 6 General election candidates:
- Catherine Giessel: 10,405
Ron Devon: 7,202
District 15 (O)
- August 28 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- August 28 Republican primary:
- Thomas Wagoner: 2,797 Incumbent Wagoner first assumed office in 2003.
- Peter Micciche: 3,963
November 6 General election candidates:
- Peter Micciche: 12,947
District 17 (Q)
- August 28 Democratic primary:
- Albert Kookesh Incumbent Kookesh first assumed office in 2005.
- Albert Kookesh
- August 28 Republican primary:
- Bert Stedman Incumbent Stedman first assumed office in 2003.
- Bert Stedman
November 6 General election candidates:
- Albert Kookesh: 5,413
- Bert Stedman: 9,829
District 18 (R)
- August 28 Democratic primary:
- August 28 Republican primary:
- Gary L. Stevens Incumbent Stevens first assumed office in 2003.
- Gary L. Stevens
November 6 General election candidates:
- Robert Henrichs: 3,277
- Gary L. Stevens: 7,673
District 19 (S)
- August 28 Democratic primary:
- Lyman Hoffman Incumbent Hoffman assumed office in 1995.
- Lyman Hoffman
- August 28 Republican primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
- Lyman Hoffman: 8,194
District 20 (T)
- August 28 Democratic primary:
- Donald Olson Incumbent Olson first assumed office in 2001.
- Donald Olson
- August 28 Republican primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
- Donald Olson: 7,455
- Allen Minish: 2,415
External links
- State of Alaska, Division of Elections, August 28, 2012 Primary Candidate List
- State of Alaska, Division of Elections, Official 2012 Primary Results
- State of Alaska, Division of Elections, Official 2012 General Candidate List
- State of Alaska, Division of Elections, Official 2012 General Election Results
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ "Redistricting could lead to shift in Legislature control", adn.com, November 14, 2011
- ↑ Follow the Money, Alaska
- ↑ Follow the Money: "Alaska State Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions"
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "2010 Census: Alaska Profile," accessed August 23, 2012
- ↑ Alaska Dispatch, "2010 census: Alaska’s population growth continues to slow," accessed April 1, 2024
- ↑ [chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://redistricting.lls.edu/wp-content/uploads/AK-riley-20120522-Supreme-Court-Order.pdf Alaska Supreme Court, "In Re 2011 Redistricting Cases," accessed April 22, 2024]
- ↑ Anchorage Daily News, "Supreme court rejects Alaska's legislative districts," accessed April 22, 2024
- ↑ All About Redistricting, "In Re 2011 Redistricting Cases," accessed April 1, 2024
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 elections.alaska.gov - 2012 Primary Candidates
- ↑ [State of Alaska, Division of Elections, "Senate District J Recount - November 29, 2012," accessed December 3, 2012]
