United States Senate election in Alaska, 2008

The Alaska Senate Election of 2008 will be held on November 4, 2008. According to Senator John Ensign of Nevada, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Alaska is one of the top ten most competitive Senate races, the others being Colorado, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon and Virginia, but NOT in that order. [Kate Phillips, [http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/gop-leader-maps-senate-elections/#more-5357 G.O.P. Leader Maps Senate Elections] "The New York Times", June 13, 2008] CQpolitics.com rates the race as "Leans Democratic." [cite news |first= |last= |title=CQ Politics 2008 - 2008 Senate Ratings Chart | url=http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-senate |work= [CQ] |publisher= |date=2008-07-29 |accessdate=2008-07-29 ]

The party Primary elections were held on Tuesday, August 26. [ [http://www.elections.alaska.gov/2008_prim_info.php 2008 Primary Election Information] Division of Elections from the "Alaska Secretary of State"] Incumbent Senator Ted Stevens is seeking re-election as the Republican candidate, and he is being challenged by Democratic candidate Mark Begich.

"CQ Politics" rates this race as 'Leans Democrat'. [ [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-senate Race Ratings Chart: Senate] "CQ Politics"] "The Cook Political Report" considers it 'Lean Democrat'. [ [http://www.cookpolitical.com/charts/senate/raceratings_2008-10-09_12-20-35.php 2008 Senate Race Ratings] "The Cook Political Report", October 9, 2008] "The Rothenberg Political Report" considers it a 'Lean Takeover'. [ [http://rothenbergpoliticalreport.blogspot.com/2008/09/2008-senate-ratings_29.html 2008 Senate Ratings] "The Rothenberg Political Report", September 29, 2008]

Political environment

The FBI investigation, and now subsequent seven count indictment, of Ted Stevens, as well as the state's only Representative, Don Young (R), has generated some negative feelings in Alaska towards Republicans, even among Republican primary voters. Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (son of the last Democratic Rep. from Alaska, Nick Begich) was courted by both the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, but in February 2008 announced the formation of an exploratory committee for the Senate seat. The possible Democratic field also includes State Rep. Eric Croft and State Senators Hollis French and Johnny Ellis. [cite news |first= |last= |title=Ted Stevens -- and Senate GOP -- In Trouble | url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20070731/cm_thenation/45218868 |work=The Nation |publisher= |date=2007-07-30 |accessdate=2007-05-29 ] Former Minority Leader of the Alaska House of Representatives Ethan Berkowitz was a possible candidate, but decided to challenge Don Young instead. Sensing discontentment within the GOP, conservative Republican Dave Cuddy announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate in December 2007.

Stevens, who faces trial in September 2008, is perceived by many as corrupt, but is also highly regarded by many Alaskans for his ability to steer federal funding toward the state; Stevens is the longest-serving Republican in the Senate (first elected in 1968), and through his seniority he has amassed a great deal of influence there. The selection of Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin as the vice-presidential running-mate of Republican presidential candidate John McCain in late August 2008 coincided with a substantial improvement in Stevens' performance in opinion polls. A poll in August showed Begich with a 17% lead, but in early September a poll from the same source showed Begich leading Stevens by only 3%. Begich's campaign and some observers attributed this change to Palin's popularity and the enthusiasm stimulated by her selection, although Palin's own reputation was partially based on her perceived opposition to Stevens or distance from him. The Stevens campaign disputed the low numbers shown in the August poll and said that the numbers had improved in September because Stevens had begun heavily campaigning. His campaign also presented the relationship between Palin and Stevens as positive, contrary to some portrayals. [Josh Kraushaar, [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13305.html "Palin popularity buoys Stevens"] , Politico.com, September 10, 2008.]

Candidates

Republican Party

*Ted Stevens: Incumbent

Lost Primary

*Michael D. Corey
*David Cuddy: Former state legislator [ [http://newsminer.com/2007/12/22/10536/ Anchorage developer plans to challenge Stevens for Senate seat] "Fairbanks Daily News-Miner" December 22, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2007]
*Gerald Heikes: Minister
*Rick Sikma: Pastor (on leave for Senate Race)
*Vic Vickers
*Richard Wanda

With three and a half weeks to go before the primary, Stevens still held a large polling lead over "chief rival" Dave Cuddy, 59% to 19%. [ [http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/08/02/stevens_sinks_in_alaska_senate_race.html Stevens Sinks in Alaska Senate Race] Political Wire August 2, 2008] Political newcomer Vic Vickers said on July 28 that he expects to pour $750 000 of his own money into his bid to defeat Stevens. [ [http://www.adn.com/3018/story/478115.html Newcomer candidate says he can beat Stevens] Anchorage Daily News 2008-07-29.] According Rasmussen polling of Alaskans, Cuddy "does nearly as well against Begich" as Stevens, trailing Begich 50% to 35%, while Vickers trails the expected Democratic nominee 55% to 22%. [ [http://community.adn.com/adn/node/128088 "50% still regard Stevens favorably and don’t want him to resign."] Alaska Daily News 2008-07-31.]

In the Republican primary on August 26, results from 70.5% of precincts showed Stevens winning with 63% of the vote; Cuddy had 28% and Vickers had 6%. [Michael O'Brien, [http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/stevens-wins-primary-young-locked-in-a-nail-biter-2008-08-27.html "Stevens wins primary, Young locked in a nail biter"] , TheHill.com, August 27, 2008.]

Democratic Party

* Mark Begich: Anchorage Mayor [cite web |url=http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/begichs-entry-tees-up-first-tough-reelection-race-in-stevenss-career-2008-02-27.html |title=Begich’s entry tees up first tough reelection race in Stevens's career |author=Aaron Blake |date=2008-02-27 |work=The Hill]

Lost Primary

* Ray Metcalfe: Former Alaska State Representative and founder of the Republican Moderate Party of Alaska [cite web |url=http://www.ballot-access.org/2007/12/03/founder-of-republican-moderate-party-of-alaska-will-run-as-a-democrat-for-us-senate/ |title=Founder of Republican Moderate Party of Alaska Will Run as a Democrat for US Senate | date=2007-12-03 | work=Ballot Access News]
*Frank Vondersaar: Senate nominee in 2002

Alaskan Independence Party

*Bob Bird

Libertarian Party

*Fredrick David Haase [http://DavidforAlaska.com]

Independent

*Ted Gianoutsos

Polling

Election Results

Democratic Primary

Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Mark Begich
votes = 63,747
percentage = 90.8
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Ray Metcalfe
votes = 5,480
percentage = 7.8
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Frank Vondersaar
votes = 965
percentage = 1.4
change = Election box turnout
votes = 70,192
percentage =
change =

Republican Primary

Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Ted Stevens
votes = 66,900
percentage = 63.5
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = David Cuddy
votes = 28,364
percentage = 26.9
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Vic Vickers
votes = 6,102
percentage = 5.8
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Michael Corey
votes = 1,496
percentage = 1.4
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Roderic Sikma
votes = 1,133
percentage = 1.1
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Rich Wanda
votes = 732
percentage = 0.7
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Gerald Heikes
votes = 599
percentage = 0.6
change = Election box turnout
votes = 105,326
percentage =
change =

General Election

Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Ted Stevens
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Mark Begich
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Alaskan Independence Party
candidate = Bob Bird
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Libertarian Party (United States)
candidate = David Haase
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Independent (politician)
candidate = Ted Gianoutsos
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box majority
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box turnout
votes =
percentage =
change =

References

External links

* [http://ltgov.state.ak.us/elections/ Alaska Division of Elections]
* [http://www.votesmart.org/election_congress_state.php?state_id=AK&go33.x=9&go33.y=7 U.S. Congress candidates for Alaska] at Project Vote Smart
* [http://www.congress.org/congressorg/e4/clist/race/?raceid=1815&district=&state=AK Alaska U.S. Senate race] from "Congress.org"
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=senate-AK Alaska, U.S. Senate] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G08/AK.phtml#S1 Alaska U.S. Senate race] from "The Green Papers"
* [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=69775 Alaska U.S. Senate] from "OurCampaigns.com"
* [http://www.2008racetracker.com/page/AK-Sen Alaska U.S. Senate race] from "2008 Race Tracker"
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=AKS1&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org
* [http://www.pollster.com/08-AK-Sen-GE-SvB.php Stevens vs Begich] graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
* [http://www.adn.com/election/ 2008 Election] from The Anchorage Daily News newspaper
*"Official campaign websites"
** [http://www.begich.com/ Mark Begich] , Democratic candidate
** [http://www.calderoforsenate.com/ Rocky Caldero] , Democratic candidate
** [http://www.davecuddy.com/ Dave Cuddy] , Republican candidate
** [http://www.tedandfran.com/ Ted Gianoutsos] , Veterans Party candidate
** [http://www.metcalfe4senate.com/ Ray Metcalfe] , Democratic candidate
** [http://www.ricksikma.com Rick Sikma] , Republican candidate
** [http://www.tedstevens2008.com/ Ted Stevens] , Republican incumbent
** [http://www.vicvickers.com/ Vic Vickers] , Republican candidate
** [http://vondersaar.googlepages.com/senate Frank Vondersaar] , Democratic candidate