2024 Anchorage mayoral election

2024 Anchorage mayoral election

←  2021 April 2, 2024 (first round) May 14, 2024 (runoff) 2027 →

Candidate Suzanne LaFrance Dave Bronson General election 25,904 36.23% 25,431 35.57% Runoff 42,597 53.54% 36,961 46.46%   Candidate Bill Popp Chris Tuck General election 11,968 16.74% 5,650 7.90% Runoff Eliminated Eliminated

Primary precinct results Runoff precinct results LaFrance   20–30%   30–40%   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   70–80% Bronson   30–40%   40–50%   50–60%   60–70% Tie   30–40%

Mayor before election Dave Bronson Republican Elected mayor Suzanne LaFrance Independent

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.

Bronson and former Anchorage Assembly chair Suzanne LaFrance advanced to the runoff, with LaFrance narrowly placing ahead of Bronson. Bronson's general election vote total was the lowest for an incumbent Anchorage mayor since 2009. Candidates eliminated in the general election include nonprofit executive Bill Popp and former Alaska House Majority Leader Chris Tuck. Popp endorsed LaFrance in the runoff, while Tuck remained neutral.

LaFrance prevailed in the runoff, becoming the first woman elected mayor of Anchorage. ^[1] Bronson is only the second mayor of Anchorage to lose re-election since it became a borough in 1975, the first being George Wuerch in 2003

Candidates

Advanced to runoff

• Dave Bronson, incumbent mayor (party affiliation: Republican) ^[2]
• Suzanne LaFrance, former chair of the Anchorage Assembly (party affiliation: Independent) ^[2]

Eliminated in general election

• Darin Colbry, truck driver and perennial candidate (party affiliation: Republican) ^[3]
• Breck Craig, technology project manager, candidate for U.S. Senate in 2016, and candidate for U.S. House in 2022 (party affiliation: Independent) ^[3]
• Nick Danger, former Girdwood supervisor, former WWF wrestler, and perennial candidate (party affiliation: Republican) ^[3]
• Dustin Darden, maintenance worker and perennial candidate (party affiliation: Alaskan Independence) ^[3]
• Jenny Di Grapa, food bank community relations director ^[3]
• Phil Isley, aircraft mechanic and perennial candidate ^[3]
• Bill Popp, nonprofit executive and former Kenai Peninsula Borough assemblyman (party affiliation: Independent) ^[4] (endorsed LaFrance in runoff) ^[5]
• Chris Tuck, former Majority Leader of the Alaska House of Representatives and former Anchorage school board member (party affiliation: Democratic) ^[6] (declined to endorse in runoff) ^[7]

General election

Endorsements

Dave Bronson (R)

Federal officials

• Dan Sullivan, U.S. senator ^[8]

Statewide officials

• Mike Dunleavy, governor of Alaska ^[8]

State cabinet officials

• Kelly Tshibaka, former commissioner of the Alaska Department of Administration ^[9]

Local officials

• Dan Sullivan, former mayor of Anchorage ^[10]

Suzanne LaFrance (I)

State cabinet officials

• Heidi Drygas, former commissioner of the Alaska Department of Labor ^[11]

State legislators

• Forrest Dunbar, state senator and runner-up for mayor in 2021 (Democratic) ^[4]
• 8 state representatives ^[9]

Local officials

• 7 Anchorage assemblymembers ^[9]
• 3 Anchorage school board members ^[9]

Labor unions

• AFL-CIO Anchorage Central Labor Council ^[12]
• Alaska State Employees Association (AFSCME Local 52) ^[11]
• Anchorage Fire Department Union (IAFF Local 1264) ^[13]
• Anchorage Police Department Employees Association PAC (co-endorsement with Popp) ^[13]

Organizations

• EMILY's List ^[14]
• Planned Parenthood Action ^[15]

Political parties

• Alaska Democratic Party (co-endorsement with Tuck) ^[16]
• Anchorage Democrats (co-endorsement with Tuck) ^[17]

Bill Popp (I)

Labor unions

• Anchorage Police Department Employees Association PAC (co-endorsement with LaFrance) ^[13]

Chris Tuck (D)

State legislators

• Tom Begich, former Minority Leader of the Alaska Senate ^[8]
• Les Gara, former state representative ^[9]
• Berta Gardner, former state senator ^[9]
• Elvi Gray-Jackson, state senator ^[8]
• Cliff Groh, state representative (co-endorsement with LaFrance) ^[9]
• Andy Josephson, state representative ^[9]
• Löki Tobin, state senator ^[9]
• Bill Wielechowski, state senator ^[9]

Local officials

• Pat Higgins, Anchorage school board member ^[9]

Political parties

• Alaska Democratic Party (co-endorsement with LaFrance) ^[9]
• Anchorage Democrats (co-endorsement with LaFrance) ^[17]

Declined to endorse

Federal officials

• Lisa Murkowski, U.S. senator (Republican) ^[10]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	Dave Bronson	Suzanne LaFrance	Bill Popp	Chris Tuck	Other	Undecided
Alaska Survey Research [18]	July 24–28, 2023	555 (LV)	± 4.2%	33%	20%	8%	13%	9% [b]	16%

Debates

2024 Anchorage mayoral election debates

No.	Date	Host	Moderator	Link	Nonpartisan	Nonpartisan	Nonpartisan	Nonpartisan
Key:  P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited  W  Withdrawn
					Dave Bronson	Suzanne LaFrance	Bill Popp	Chris Tuck
1	Mar. 13, 2024	Alaska's News Source	Mike Ross	YouTube	P	P	P	P
2	Mar. 16, 2024	The Alaska Landmine	Jeff Landfield	YouTube	P	P	P	P
3	Mar. 21, 2024	Alaska Public Media Anchorage Daily News	Tom Hewitt Lori Townsend	YouTube	P	P	P	P

Results

2024 Anchorage mayoral general election ^[19]

Candidate		Votes	%
Suzanne LaFrance		25,904	36.23
Dave Bronson (incumbent)		25,431	35.57
Bill Popp		11,968	16.74
Chris Tuck		5,650	7.90
Jenny Di Grapa		1,435	2.01
Nick Danger		326	0.46
Phil Isley		311	0.43
Dustin Darden		229	0.32
Breck Craig		154	0.22
Darin Colbry		88	0.12
Write-in		155	0.22
Total votes		71,496	100

Runoff

Debates

2024 Anchorage mayoral election runoff debates

No.	Date	Host	Moderator	Link	Nonpartisan	Nonpartisan
Key:  P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited  W  Withdrawn
					Dave Bronson	Suzanne LaFrance
1	May 2, 2024	Alaska Public Media	Tom Hewitt Lori Townsend	YouTube	P	P
2	May 3, 2024	Alaska Public Media	Rebecca Palsha	YouTube	P	P

Results

2024 Anchorage mayoral runoff ^[20]

Candidate		Votes	%
Suzanne LaFrance		42,597	53.54
Dave Bronson (incumbent)		36,961	46.46
Total votes		79,558	100.00

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear
2. Bill Falsey with 9%

References

1. "LaFrance declares victory in Anchorage mayor's race". Anchorage Daily News . May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
2. Early, Wesley (April 2, 2024). "Bronson and LaFrance prepare for runoff in Anchorage mayoral election". Alaska Public Media . Retrieved April 11, 2024.
3. Goodykoontz, Emily; Berman, Annie (January 26, 2024). "Here's who is running for Anchorage mayor and school board". Anchorage Daily News . Retrieved January 30, 2024.
4. Hsieh, Jeremy (September 12, 2023). "Bill Popp enters Anchorage mayoral race". Alaska Public Media . Retrieved October 12, 2023.
5. Early, Wesley (April 10, 2024). "Popp endorses LaFrance for Anchorage mayor". Alaska Public Media . Retrieved April 11, 2024.
6. Goodykoontz, Emily (June 14, 2023). "Former state Rep. Chris Tuck to run for Anchorage mayor". Anchorage Daily News . Retrieved June 19, 2023.
7. Cole, Shannon (April 10, 2024). "Popp endorses LaFrance for Anchorage mayor; Tuck remains neutral". KTUU-TV . Retrieved April 11, 2024.
8. Samuels, Iris; Goodykoontz, Emily (August 12, 2023). "Bronson opponents take early sides in Anchorage mayoral race". Anchorage Daily News . Retrieved November 9, 2023.
9. Downing, Suzanne (August 10, 2023). "Chris Tuck adds endorsement for mayor: Alaska Democratic Party". Must Read Alaska. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
10. Downing, Suzanne (March 30, 2024). "Murkowski won't endorse Bronson for mayor, but endorses mail-in elections in Anchorage". Must Read Alaska. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
11. Acuña Buxton, Matt (September 26, 2023). "LaFrance adds another endorsement from The Alaska Center". Alaska Current. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
12. Hughes, Zachariah; Goodykoontz, Emily (November 15, 2023). "Labor council backs LaFrance, an early show of support in Anchorage mayor's race". Anchorage Daily News . Retrieved November 9, 2023.
13. Goodykoontz, Emily (November 7, 2023). "Police PAC endorses LaFrance and Popp in Anchorage mayor's race, fire union backs LaFrance". Anchorage Daily News . Retrieved November 9, 2023.
14. "EMILYs List Endorses Suzanne LaFrance for Mayor of Anchorage, Alaska". EMILY's List. March 6, 2024. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
15. "Alaska Candidate Endorsements". Planned Parenthood . Retrieved November 9, 2023.
16. @TheAlaskaDems (January 7, 2024). "It's a new year, and it's time for a new mayor – luckily, two great candidates have stepped up to bring Anchorage the leadership it deserves! In 4 months, we'll have the chance to finally vote Dave Bronson out. #BeatBronson2024" (Tweet). Retrieved January 7, 2024– via Twitter.
17. "Our Endorsements". Anchorage Democrats. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
18. Alaska Survey Research
19. "Official Results - April 23, 2024 Municipal Election" (PDF). Municipality of Anchorage. April 23, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
20. "Official Results - May 31, 2024" (PDF). Municipality of Anchorage. May 31, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.

External links

Official campaign websites

• Dave Bronson (R) for Mayor
• Suzanne LaFrance (I) for Mayor