2021 Anchorage mayoral election

Last updated

2021 Anchorage mayoral election
Flag of Anchorage, Alaska.svg
←  2018 April 6, 2021 (first round) [1]
May 11, 2021 (runoff) [2] 		2024  →
Turnout31.88% (first round) [3]
38.35% (runoff) [4]
  Dave bronson (cropped).jpg Forrest Dunbar (3x4a).jpg 3x4.svg
Candidate Dave Bronson Forrest Dunbar Bill Falsey
First round24,567
32.96%		23,054
30.93%		9,551
12.82%
Runoff 45,937
50.66%		44,744
49.34%		Eliminated
 
CandidateBill EvansMike Robbins
First round7,073
9.49%		5,766
7.74%
Runoff EliminatedEliminated
2021 Anchorage mayoral runoff election by precinct.svg
Interactive map version
Runoff results by precinct:
Mayor before election

Austin Quinn-Davidson
Independent

Elected Mayor

Dave Bronson
Republican

The 2021 Anchorage mayoral election was held on April 6, 2021, to elect the mayor of Anchorage, Alaska. [1] As no candidate received at least 45% of the vote in the first round, the two candidates with the highest vote share, Forrest Dunbar and Dave Bronson, advanced to a runoff on May 11. [2] [5] The election was officially nonpartisan. Incumbent independent acting mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson, first appointed to the position in October 2020, was eligible to run for reelection to a full term, but did not run. [6] [7] [8] The deadline to register to vote in the first round was March 7. Mail-in ballots were sent out starting on March 15. On May 21, 2021, after a narrow loss, Dunbar conceded the race to Bronson. [9] Bronson was sworn in on July 1. [5]

Contents

Background

Ethan Berkowitz was elected mayor in 2015 and 2018 and was ineligible to run for a third term. On October 13, 2020, he announced his resignation through his chief of staff Jason Bockenstadt at a meeting of the Anchorage Assembly, Anchorage's city council, to be effective October 23. The resignation came after a reporter made allegations that he was engaged in an inappropriate relationship with her. [10] Felix Rivera, chair of the Anchorage Assembly, was next in the line of succession to the office. After a failed attempt immediately following the resignation announcement, the Assembly met in a special meeting on October 16 to reorganize itself, installing Austin Quinn-Davidson as Assembly chair with Rivera as vice-chair. This move allowed Quinn-Davidson to succeed to the office of mayor and allowed Rivera to retain his position presiding over Assembly meetings. [10] Quinn-Davidson is both the first female and first openly gay mayor of Anchorage. [11] On November 4, the Assembly voted not to hold a special election for the position of mayor, meaning that the next election for the seat would be the regularly scheduled one in 2021. [12]

General election

In the leadup to the general election, it was widely believed that there would be a runoff between Dunbar and one of the more conservative candidates. [5]

Candidates

Major candidates

Other registered candidates

Withdrawn

Declined

Endorsements

Dave Bronson (R)
Bill Evans (I)
George Martinez (D)

People

Organizations

Mike Robbins (R)

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of February 18, 2021
Candidate (party, if known)Total raised
Anna Anthonydid not file
Dave Bronson (R)$162,482
Jeffrey Browndid not file
Darin Colbry (R)$0
Forrest Dunbar (D)$252,216
Bill Evans (I)$98,480
Bill Falsey (I)$106,285
Heather Herndon$0
Jacob Seth Kern (D)did not file
George Martinez (D)$60,086
Reza Momindid not file
Mike Robbins (R)$210,058
Albert Swank Jr.$0
Jacob Versteegdid not file
Joe Westfalldid not file
[27] [24]

Debates

Five candidates did not participate in either debate: Anna Anthony, Darin Colbry, Jacob Seth Kern, Reza Momin, and Jacob Versteeg.

2021 Anchorage mayoral election debates
 No.Date & timeHostModeratorLinkParticipants
Key:
 P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Non-invitee   I  Invitee
Dave BronsonJeffrey BrownForrest DunbarBill EvansBill FalseyHeather HerndonGeorge MartinezMike RobbinsAlbert
Swank Jr.		Joe Westfall
  1 [28]  
February 16, 2021
Tom Hewitt
PNPPPNPPNN
  2 [30]  
March 18, 2021
West Anchorage
Community Councils
Unknown
Not recorded
PPPPPPPPPP

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Dave
Bronson		Forrest
Dunbar		Bill
Falsey		Mike
Robbins		OtherUndecided
Independent pollster at APOC [31] Released March 8, 2021– (V) [b] –20%22%8%8%9% [c] 33%

Results

General election results [32]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Dave Bronson 24,567 32.96
Nonpartisan Forrest Dunbar 23,054 30.93
Nonpartisan Bill Falsey9,55112.82
Nonpartisan Bill Evans7,0739.49
Nonpartisan Mike Robbins5,7667.74
Nonpartisan George Martinez2,7533.69
Nonpartisan Heather Herndon4510.61
Nonpartisan Jeffrey Brown3070.41
Nonpartisan Anna Anthony3060.41
Nonpartisan Albert Swank Jr.2310.31
Nonpartisan Joe Westfall830.11
Nonpartisan Jacob Seth Kern520.07
Nonpartisan Reza Momin520.07
Nonpartisan Jacob Versteeg430.06
Nonpartisan Darin Colbry310.04
Write-in 2050.28
Total votes74,525 100.00

Runoff

In the leadup to the runoff, third-place primary finisher Falsey and sixth-place finisher Martinez endorsed Dunbar, while fifth-place finisher Robbins endorsed Bronson. [33] [34] Fourth-place finisher Evans did not make an endorsement.

Endorsements

Dave Bronson (R)

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [d] 		Margin
of error		Dave
Bronson		Forrest
Dunbar		Undecided
Alaska Survey Research [35] April 9–12, 2021322 (LV)± 5.5%44%45%11%

Results

Runoff results [36]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Dave Bronson 45,937 50.66
Nonpartisan Forrest Dunbar 44,74449.34
Total votes90,681 100.00

Notes

  1. ↑ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ↑ Not yet released
  3. ↑ Bill Evans with 5%; George Martinez with 2%; Other (5 candidates) with 2%
  4. ↑ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

Related Research Articles

Richard Mystrom is an American politician, businessman, and author who served as the 32nd mayor of the Municipality of Anchorage from 1994 to 2000. He is a member of the Republican party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Alaska gubernatorial election</span>

The 2014 Alaska gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2014, to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of Alaska, concurrently with the election of Alaska's Class II U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska</span>

The 2014 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska was held on November 4, 2014, to elect the U.S. representative from Alaska's at-large congressional district, who will represent the state of Alaska in the 114th United States Congress. The election coincided with the elections of a Class II U.S. Senator and the Governor of Alaska, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 United States Senate election in Alaska</span>

The 2016 United States Senate election in Alaska was held on November 8, 2016, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Alaska, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Walker (American politician)</span> American attorney and politician (born 1951)

William Martin Walker is an American attorney and politician who served as the 11th governor of Alaska, from 2014 to 2018. He was the second Alaska-born governor, after William A. Egan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska</span>

The 2016 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska was held on November 8, 2016, to elect the U.S. representative from Alaska's at-large congressional district, who will represent the state of Alaska in the 114th United States Congress. The election coincided with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections in the United States Senate, and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States Senate election in Alaska</span>

The 2020 United States Senate election in Alaska was held on November 3, 2020, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Alaska, concurrently with the nationwide presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan won re-election to a second term in office, defeating Democratic nominee Al Gross, the son of Avrum Gross, who ran as an independent candidate. John Wayne Howe, the nominee of the Alaskan Independence Party, was also on the ballot and finished a distant third.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Alaska gubernatorial election</span>

The 2018 Alaska gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of Alaska. In the primaries for recognized political parties, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run separately. The winners of each respective primary for governor and lieutenant governor then become a joint ticket in the general election for their political party. Incumbent Independent governor Bill Walker was seeking re-election in what was originally a three-way race between Walker, Republican former Alaska state senator Mike Dunleavy, and Democratic former Alaska U.S. Senator Mark Begich. Despite Walker dropping out on October 19, 2018, and endorsing Begich, Dunleavy won in what was the only gubernatorial gain by a Republican candidate in 2018. As of 2024, this was the last time the Governor's office in Alaska changed partisan control. Walker later unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Alaska in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States Senate election in Alaska</span>

The 2022 United States Senate election in Alaska was held on November 8, 2022. Incumbent senator Lisa Murkowski won reelection to a fourth full term, defeating fellow Republican Kelly Tshibaka and Democrat Patricia Chesbro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Alaska gubernatorial election</span>

The 2022 Alaska gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Alaska. Incumbent Republican governor Mike Dunleavy won re-election to a second term, becoming the first Republican governor to be re-elected to a second term since Jay Hammond in 1978 and the first governor, regardless of political affiliation, to be re-elected to a second term since Tony Knowles in 1998.

Austin Quinn-Davidson is an American politician and attorney who served as the acting mayor of Anchorage, Alaska after the resignation of Ethan Berkowitz in October 2020 until the inauguration of Dave Bronson in July 2021. Quinn-Davidson began serving on the Anchorage Assembly in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska</span>

The November 2022 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska was held on Tuesday, November 8, to elect a member of the United States House of Representatives to represent the state of Alaska. Democratic incumbent Mary Peltola won reelection to a full term in office, defeating Republicans Sarah Palin and Nick Begich III and Libertarian Chris Bye in the runoff count.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forrest Dunbar</span> American politician (born 1984)

Forrest Dunbar is an American politician, attorney, and military officer. He is a member of the Alaska Senate, representing East Anchorage District J since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served on the Anchorage Assembly from 2016 to 2023. He is a major and Judge Advocate in the Alaska Army National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Bronson</span> American politician

David Bronson is an American politician, pilot, and retired Air Force officer. A Republican, he was the 37th mayor of Anchorage, Alaska from 2021 until 2024.

The Anchorage Assembly is the governing body of Anchorage, Alaska. The Assembly has twelve members elected to three-year terms from six districts. It is responsible for creating and approving the city's annual budget, appropriating municipal funding, and managing elections. Seats in the Assembly are officially nonpartisan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1990 Anchorage mayoral election</span>

The 1990 Anchorage mayoral election was held on October 2 and October 30, 1990, to elect the mayor of Anchorage, Alaska. It saw reelection of Tom Fink.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Denver mayoral election</span>

The 2023 Denver mayoral election was held on April 4, 2023 to elect the mayor of Denver, Colorado, with a runoff held on June 6. The election was officially nonpartisan and was held concurrently with elections for the Denver City Council, as well as city auditor and city clerk and recorder. Incumbent Democratic mayor Michael Hancock was term-limited and could not seek a fourth term in office. A historic field of seventeen candidates filed to run in the race to succeed Hancock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Alaska's at-large congressional district special election</span>

The 2022 Alaska at-large congressional district special election was held on August 16 to fill the seat left vacant after the death of Republican incumbent Don Young. Mary Peltola was elected in a 3-way race against former governor Sarah Palin and Nick Begich III in the election, becoming the first Alaska Native and woman to represent Alaska in the House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 Anchorage mayoral election</span>

The 2024 Anchorage mayoral election was held on April 2, 2024, with a runoff election on May 14 because no candidate received more than 45% of the vote in the first round. It elected the mayor of Anchorage, Alaska. Incumbent Republican mayor Dave Bronson ran for re-election to a second term in office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suzanne LaFrance</span> American politician (born 1968)

Suzanne LaFrance is an American politician from the state of Alaska. She is the 38th mayor of Anchorage, having unseated incumbent mayor Dave Bronson in the 2024 election.

References

  1. 1 2 "Republican Mike Robbins joins 2021 Anchorage mayoral race". Anchorage Daily News. August 20, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Dave Bronson, backed by 'Save Anchorage' group, enters crowded mayoral race". Anchorage Daily News. August 26, 2020.
  3. ↑ Official Results 2021 [ permanent dead link ]
  4. ↑ Official Results 2021 [ permanent dead link ]
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "In a crowded race, many candidates for Anchorage mayor say they're aiming to make it to an expected runoff". Anchorage Daily News. February 15, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  6. ↑ George, Kavitha; Anchorage, Alaska Public Media- (October 17, 2020). "Assembly reorganizes, elects Austin Quinn-Davidson to become interim mayor". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  7. ↑ Buxton, Matt (August 8, 2018). "Progressive Quinn-Davidson wins big in Anchorage Assembly special election". The Midnight Sun. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Mathews, Cheyenne. "Anchorage municipal manager files to run for mayor". Alaska's News Source.
  9. ↑ "Bronson set to win race for Anchorage mayor; Dunbar concedes". Anchorage Daily News. May 22, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  10. 1 2 Goodykoontz, Emily (October 16, 2020). "Anchorage Assembly chooses Austin Quinn-Davidson to serve as acting mayor". Anchorage Daily News . Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Anchorage chooses 1st woman, openly gay acting mayor". NBC News.
  12. ↑ "Anchorage Assembly rejects special election for mayor". Anchorage Daily News. November 5, 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 George, Kavitha; Anchorage, Alaska Public Media- (January 18, 2021). "Candidates begin filing for Anchorage municipal office". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Here's who has filed to run for Anchorage mayor and the Anchorage School Board so far". Anchorage Daily News. January 21, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Forrest Dunbar". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Here are all the candidates running for Anchorage mayor and school board". Anchorage Daily News. January 30, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "2021 Anchorage mayoral race takes shape with a crowded field". Anchorage Daily News. December 6, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Darin Colbry". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  19. ↑ Staff, T. N. L. "Anchorage Mayoral Candidate Profiles | The Northern Light". Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  20. ↑ "2021 Elections Mayor Candidate - Jacob Versteeg". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Dustin Darden". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Mayoral election in Anchorage, Alaska (2021)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 "Endorsements". Forrest Dunbar for Mayor. Retrieved June 9, 2021.[ permanent dead link ]
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 "Dunbar so far outraises competitors for Anchorage mayor's office by tens of thousands of dollars". Anchorage Daily News. February 18, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Evans offers clear-headed, unifying leadership for Anchorage". Anchorage Daily News. February 7, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  26. ↑ George, Kavitha; Anchorage, Alaska Public Media- (December 21, 2020). "Former Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan endorses Bill Evans". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  27. ↑ George, Kavitha; Anchorage, Alaska Public Media- (February 19, 2021). "Dunbar, Robbins lead in fundraising for Anchorage mayoral race". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Watch: 6 Anchorage mayoral candidates debate homelessness and housing in online forum". Anchorage Daily News. February 17, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  29. ↑ Video
  30. ↑ "Candidates for Anchorage mayor are set to debate in online forum Thursday night. Here's how to watch". Anchorage Daily News. March 19, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  31. ↑ Independent pollster at APOC
  32. ↑ https://www.muni.org/Departments/Assembly/Clerk/Elections/Election_Results/2021_Official_Results-_initialed.pdf [ dead link ]
  33. ↑ Goodykoontz, Emily. "Falsey endorses Dunbar and Robbins endorses Bronson in race for Anchorage mayor". Achorage Daily News.
  34. ↑ Goodykoontz, Emily. "George Martinez endorses Forrest Dunbar in Anchorage mayoral race". Achorage Daily News.
  35. ↑ Alaska Survey Research
  36. ↑ http://www.muni.org/Departments/Assembly/Clerk/Elections/Election_Results/May_11_2021_Mayor_Runoff_Election_Official_Results.pdf [ dead link ]

Official campaign websites

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.