1962 Alaska gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1962 United States gubernatorial elections.

1962 Alaska gubernatorial election

←  1958 November 6, 1962 1966  →

Nominee William A. Egan Mike Stepovich Party Democratic Republican Running mate Hugh Wade Ross Popular vote 29,627 27,054 Percentage 52.27% 47.73%

Results by borough and census area Results by state house district Egan:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Stepovich:     50–60%

Governor before election William A. Egan Democratic Elected Governor William A. Egan Democratic

The 1962 Alaska gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1962, for the post of Governor of Alaska. Incumbent Democratic governor William A. Egan was re-elected, defeating Republican challenger and former governor of Alaska Territory Mike Stepovich. In the primary elections, Egan defeated George Byer and Warren A. Taylor, while Stepovich defeated Howard Wallace Pollock and Jack Coghill.

Candidates

The following candidates appeared on the primary election ballot: ^[1]

Democratic

• David Newton Boyer, Kenai Peninsula business owner
• George H. Byer, former Mayor of Anchorage
• William A. Egan, incumbent governor
• Warren A. Taylor, Fairbanks attorney, constitutional convention delegate, Speaker of the Alaska House for the previous four sessions

Taylor simultaneously ran for governor and for reelection to his House seat. ^[2]

Republican

• John B. Coghill, Nenana business owner and state senator, constitutional convention delegate
• Milo H. Fritz, Anchorage physician, medical missionary with the Episcopal Missionary District of Alaska in rural Alaska
• Verne O. Martin, Anchorage attorney ^[3]
• Howard Pollock, Anchorage attorney, state senator
• Mike Stepovich, Fairbanks attorney, former territorial governor

Write-in

Following the primary election, the race featured a declared write-in candidate, Robert W. Hamilton of College. Hamilton owned a gas station in Lemeta, then a suburb of and presently a neighborhood of Fairbanks, and was a former educator and road construction foreman. He was backed by a group calling itself the Alaska Betterment Club. Due to the newness of Alaska as a state, questions arose about the legality of his campaign. His vote total is unknown as it was not included in the published results. ^{[4] [5]}

Results

1962 Alaska gubernatorial election ^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Bill Egan (inc.)	29,627	52.27%	−7.34%
	Republican	Mike Stepovich	27,054	47.73%	+7.34%
Majority			2,573	4.54%
Turnout			56,681
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. "Candidates for Governor – Tuesday, August 14". The Nome Nugget . August 13, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
2. Sims, Ward (July 27, 1962). "Expect Minimum of 14 New Faces In State House of Representatives". The Nome Nugget. Associated Press. p. 3. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
3. "Obituary". Anchorage Daily News . October 18, 1996. p. C5.
4. "R. W. Hamilton Makes Write-In Bid For Governor's Post". The Nome Nugget. Associated Press. November 2, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
5. "If Hamilton Is Elected ... Would It Be Legal?". The Nome Nugget. Associated Press. November 5, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
6. "1962 Gubernatorial General Election Results - Alaska" (PDF). Alaska Division of Elections. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 2, 2009. Retrieved August 31, 2009.