2024 Alaska Senate election

Last updated

2024 Alaska Senate elections
Flag of Alaska.svg
←  2022 November 5, 20242026 →
10 of 20 seats in the Alaska Senate
11 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority partyThird party
  Gary Stevens May 1 2019 (cropped).jpg 3x4.svg Shelley Hughes by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Leader Gary Stevens
(coalition)		None
(coalition)		 Shelley Hughes
(minority)
Party Republican Democratic Republican
Leader sinceJanuary 17, 2023
Leader's seatC District
Seats before893
Seats after695
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 2Steady2.svgIncrease2.svg 2
2024 Alaska Senate Election.svg

     Democratic coalition incumbent
     Republican coalition incumbent
     No election

The 2024 Alaska Senate elections took place on November 5, 2024, with the primary elections being held on August 20, 2024. State senators serve four-year terms in the Alaska State Senate, with half of the seats up for election every two years. [1]

Contents

Background

Republicans maintained control of the state senate from the 2012 election until the 2022 midterms, after which a coalition government between 8 of the 11 Republicans and all 9 Democrats was formed. [2] The 3 remaining Republicans did not join the coalition; none of their seats are up for election. Some majority-coalition Republicans faced conservative opponents who vowed not to join the caucus, such as Jesse Bjorkman and Kelly Merrick, who face challenges from State Representatives Ben Carpenter and Ken McCarty respectively. [3] David Wilson also faces a conservative challenger in Mat-Su Assemblymember Robert Yundt for joining the majority caucus. [4]

Bjorkman and Merrick ultimately prevailed after ranked-choice votes were tabulated, while Yundt defeated Wilson outright. In the open R District held by coalition Republican Click Bishop, non-coalition Republican state representative Mike Cronk won. The bipartisan coalition thus lost two seats but held its supermajority. [5]

Overview

Primary elections

2024 Alaska State Senate election
Primary election – August 20, 2024 [6]
PartyVotes %CandidatesAdvancing to generalSeats contesting
Republican 26,81051.0616127
Democratic 20,98839.97888
Undeclared4,0567.72222
Independence 6531.24211
Totals52,507100.002823—

Summary of results

District Incumbent PartyElected SenatorParty
B Jesse Kiehl Dem Jesse Kiehl Dem
D Jesse Bjorkman Rep Jesse Bjorkman Rep
F James D. Kaufman Rep James D. Kaufman Rep
H Matt Claman Dem Matt Claman Dem
J Forrest Dunbar Dem Forrest Dunbar Dem
L Kelly Merrick Rep Kelly Merrick Rep
N David Wilson Rep Robert Yundt Rep
P Scott Kawasaki Dem Scott Kawasaki Dem
R Click Bishop†Rep Mike Cronk Rep
T Donny Olson Dem Donny Olson Dem

Retirements

  1. R District: Click Bishop is retiring. [7]

Detailed results

District B

Nonpartisan primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jesse Kiehl (incumbent) 6,256 100.0
Total votes6,256 100.0
General election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jesse Kiehl (incumbent) 15,508 96.51
Write-in 5613.49
Total votes16,069 100.0
Democratic hold
Coalition hold

District D

Nonpartisan primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Coalition Republican Jesse Bjorkman (incumbent) 2,924 44.3
Republican Ben Carpenter 2,660 40.3
Democratic Tina Wegener 845 12.8
Independence Andy Cizek (withdrew)1722.6
Total votes6,601 100.0
General election [11]
PartyCandidateFirst choiceRound 1Round 2
Votes %TransferVotes %TransferVotes %
Coalition Republican Jesse Bjorkman 9,23447.82%+239,25747.92%+5459,802 54.71%
Republican Ben Carpenter 7,84840.64%+177,86540.71%+2498,11445.29%
Democratic Tina Wegener2,18211.3%+142,19611.37%-2,196Eliminated
Write-in 470.24%-47Eliminated
Total votes19,31119,31817,916
Blank or inactive ballots 820+1,4022,222
Republican hold
Coalition hold

District F

Nonpartisan primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Janice Park 2,737 48.8
Coalition Republican James D. Kaufman (incumbent) 2,563 45.7
Republican Harold Borbridge 307 5.5
Total votes5,607 100.0
General election [12] [13]
PartyCandidateFirst choiceRound 1Round 2
Votes %TransferVotes %TransferVotes %
Coalition Republican James D. Kaufman 8,14747.9%+338,18048.1%+4988,67852.8%
Democratic Janice Park7,64645.0%+117,65745.0%+877,74447.2%
Republican Harold Borbridge1,1786.9%+61,1847.0%-Eliminated
Write-in 350.21%-Eliminated
Total votes17,00617,02116,422
Blank or inactive ballots 946+5991,545
Republican hold
Coalition hold

District H

Nonpartisan primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Matt Claman (incumbent) 4,036 60.1
Republican Thomas McKay (withdrew)1,39320.7
Republican Liz Vazquez 1,287 19.2
Total votes6,716 100.0
General election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Matt Claman (incumbent) 9,924 55.24
Republican Liz Vazquez 7,98944.47
Write-in 530.3
Total votes17,966 100.0
Democratic hold
Coalition hold

District J

Nonpartisan primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Forrest Dunbar (incumbent) 2,253 72.3
Independent Cheronda Smith [a] 863 27.7
Total votes3,116 100.0
General election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Forrest Dunbar (incumbent) 7,292 69.83
Independent Cheronda Smith [a] 3,02228.94
Write-in 1291.24
Total votes10,443 100.0
Democratic hold
Coalition hold

District L

Nonpartisan primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Coalition Republican Kelly Merrick (incumbent) 2,332 33.9
Republican Jared Goecker 2,247 32.7
Democratic Lee Hammermeister 1,003 14.6
Republican Ken McCarty (withdrew)77911.3
Republican Sharon Jackson (withdrew)5137.5
Total votes6,874 100.0

After the primary, McCarty withdrew from the race and endorsed Goecker. This would normally mean that Jackson, the fifth place finisher, would move up, but she also withdrew and endorsed Goecker. [14]

General election [15] [12]
PartyCandidateFirst choiceRound 1Round 2
Votes %TransferVotes %TransferVotes %
Coalition Republican Kelly Merrick 9,05046.3%+429,09246.5%+8009,89255.5%
Republican Jared Goecker7,68539.3%+137,69839.4%+2417,93944.5%
Democratic Lee Hammermeister2,75414.1%+162,77014.2%-2,770Eliminated
Write-in 510.3%-51Eliminated
Total votes19,54019,56017,831
Blank or inactive ballots 780+1,7292,509
Republican hold
Coalition hold

District N

Nonpartisan primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Coalition Republican David Wilson (incumbent) 1,724 41.4
Republican Robert Yundt 1,360 32.7
Republican Stephen Wright 1,080 25.9
Total votes4,164 100.0
General election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Robert Yundt 8,163 52.69
Coalition Republican David S. Wilson (incumbent)4,52529.21
Republican Stephen Wright2,61916.9
Write-in 1861.2
Total votes15,493 100.0
Republican hold
Minority Caucus gain from Coalition

District P

Nonpartisan primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Leslie Hajdukovich 1,764 51.35
Democratic Scott Kawasaki (incumbent) 1,671 48.65
Total votes3,435 100.0
General election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Scott Kawasaki (incumbent) 5,913 51.39
Republican Leslie Hajdukovich5,56148.33
Write-in 320.28
Total votes11,506 100.0
Democratic hold
Coalition hold

District R

Nonpartisan primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mike Cronk 3,305 43.8
Independent Savannah Fletcher [a] 3,193 42.3
Republican James Squyres (withdrew)5727.6
Independence Robert Williams 481 6.4
Total votes7,551 100.0
General election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mike Cronk 9,387 51.84
Independent Savannah Fletcher [a] 7,50941.47
Independence Robert Williams1,1576.39
Write-in 560.31
Total votes18,109 100.0
Republican hold
Minority Caucus gain from Coalition

District T

Nonpartisan primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Donny Olson (incumbent) 2,187 100
General election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Donny Olson (incumbent) 6,273 97.63
Write-in 1522.37
Total votes6,425 100.0
Democratic hold
Coalition hold

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Listed on the ballot as "Undeclared"

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Alaska State Senate Elections, 2024". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  2. ↑ Rosen, Yereth. "In new bipartisan Alaska Senate majority of 17, members vow compromise and consensus". No. 29 November 2023. Alaska Beacon. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  3. ↑ Board, Riley (November 21, 2021). "Three file for Central Peninsula state Senate seat". KDLL . Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  4. ↑ Bradner, Tim (June 8, 2024). "Mat-Su's legislative races may shift people, but not party affiliation and philosophy". Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman . Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  5. ↑ Samuels, Iris; Maguire, Sean (November 20, 2024). "Ranked choice voting and open primaries retained in Alaska after final ballot count". Anchorage Daily News . Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  6. ↑ "2024 PRIMARY ELECTION OFFICAL RESULTS". Alaska Division of Elections. September 1, 2024. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  7. ↑ Maguire, Sean; Samuels, Iris (May 30, 2024). "Alaska Rep. Dan Ortiz, Sen. Click Bishop say they won't run for reelection". Anchorage Daily News . Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  8. ↑ "State of Alaska 2024 GENERAL ELECTION Election Summary Report November 5, 2024 OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). Alaska Division of Elections. November 30, 2024. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  9. ↑ "OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). Alaska Division of Elections. September 1, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Candidates". Alaska Division of Elections. September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Senate District D RCV Detailed Report" (PDF). Alaska Division of Elections. November 30, 2024. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  12. 1 2 "State of Alaska 2024 General Election Election Summary Report November 5, 2024 Unofficial Results" (PDF). elections.alaska.gov. State of Alaska. November 30, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  13. ↑ "RCV Detailed Report General Election State of Alaska November 05, 2024 Senate District F" (PDF). elections.alaska.gov. State of Alaska. November 30, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  14. ↑ Kirch, Steve (August 28, 2024). "Ken McCarty drops out of Eagle River Senate race, endorses incumbent's challenger". KTUU-TV . Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  15. ↑ "RCV Detailed Report General Election State of Alaska November 05, 2024 Senate District L" (PDF). elections.alaska.gov. State of Alaska. November 30, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
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