Ethan Berkowitz

Last updated

Berkowitz was the Democratic minority leader in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1999 to 2007. He was first elected to represent District 26 (Anchorage) in 1996 and reelected in 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2004.

2006 campaign

In the 2006 election Berkowitz was the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor of Alaska, running with gubernatorial nominee Tony Knowles. Knowles and Berkowitz were defeated in the general election by Sarah Palin and Sean Parnell, 48% to 41%.

2008 campaign

In 2008 Berkowitz ran for election as U.S. Representative for Alaska's At-large congressional district, held by scandal-plagued Republican Don Young, who was seeking his 19th term in Congress. Berkowitz defeated Diane Benson in the August 26 Democratic primary by a substantial margin. [7]

The initial results from the general election on November 4, 2008, showed Young leading the race, but with many absentee and provisional ballots left to be counted, the race was not called. On November 12 the media declared that Young had been reelected. [8] [9]

Berkowitz conceded defeat on November 18, after counting of absentee and provisional ballots had mostly been completed and Young had a clearly insurmountable lead. Ultimately Young received 50% of the vote to Berkowitz's 45%. Berkowitz received more votes in 2008 (142,560) than any Democrat who had ever run against Young for Congress, and came the closest any Democrat had to unseating Young since 1990, when John Devens of Valdez received 48% of the vote. [10]

2010 campaign

In December 2008 Berkowitz said he was considering challenging Young again in 2010, [11] but in July 2009 he said he would not run and was instead considering challenging Governor Sarah Palin. [12] [13] Berkowitz entered the race following Palin's resignation in July 2009 and on August 24, 2010, he defeated State Senator Hollis S. French for the Democratic nomination. Incumbent Republican Governor Sean Parnell defeated Berkowitz and his running mate Diane E. Benson in the November general election, 59% to 38%. [14]

2015 mayoral campaign

Berkowitz ran for mayor of Anchorage in 2015. He finished ahead of the rest of the field in the nonpartisan primary on April 7, advancing to a runoff with Assemblywoman Amy Demboski. Endorsed by the third-place finisher, former Republican state representative Andrew Halcro, [15] he won the May 5 runoff election by a 19-point margin. [16] [17]

Comments Berkowitz had made on the Bernadette and Berkowitz Show attracted controversy. In the context of a debate on October 13, 2014, with co-host Bernadette Wilson over same-sex marriage, Berkowitz had said, "I support the idea of adults being able to choose who they have a relationship with. Father and son should be allowed to marry, if they’re both consenting adults—if you’re defining marriage as the bundle of rights and privileges that’s now accrued to people, then yes." [18] [19] Berkowitz later called the remark a "hypothetical insinuation", denying that he supports incest. [20]

Mayor of Anchorage

On July 1, 2015, Berkowitz was sworn in as Anchorage's mayor. In his inauguration speech he urged city residents and leaders to work to overcome differences and "rise above the immediacy and smallness of the moment". [21]

On October 13, 2020, he announced that he would resign, effective October 23, after he acknowledged the previous day that he had been in a "consensual, inappropriate messaging relationship" with KYUR television anchor Maria Athens. [2] [3] [4]

Other ventures

Berkowitz took the position of Senior Vice President of the Anchorage, Alaska branch of Strategies 360 in February 2011. [22]

Berkowitz and Bernadette Wilson were co-hosts of the Bernadette and Berkowitz Show on Anchorage radio station KFQD in 2014. He left the show when he began his mayoral campaign. [23]

Electoral history

Ethan Berkowitz
Ethan Berkowitz (27438918357).jpg
Mayor of Anchorage
In office
July 1, 2015 –October 23, 2020

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Alaska gubernatorial election</span> Election for the governorship of the U.S. state of Alaska

The 2006 Alaska gubernatorial general election took place on November 7, 2006. The former mayor of Wasilla, Sarah Palin, defeated incumbent governor Frank Murkowski in the Republican primary, and then went on to defeat former governor Tony Knowles in the general election. Palin became the first governor of the state to be born after Alaskan statehood.

Andrew Halcro is an American politician from Anchorage, Alaska. Formerly a Republican member of the Alaska House of Representatives, he ran for Governor of Alaska as an independent candidate in the 2006 election, placing third with 9.46 percent of the vote.

Diane E. Benson is an Alaskan politician, writer and dramatist. She was the 2010 Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor of Alaska, defeating three other opponents in the Democratic primary. Benson's running mate for governor was former state House minority leader Ethan Berkowitz; they lost in the general election to the Republican ticket of Sean Parnell and Mead Treadwell by 22% of the vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Parnell</span> American politician (born 1962)

Sean Randall Parnell is an American attorney and politician who was the tenth governor of Alaska from 2009 to 2014. He succeeded Sarah Palin in July 2009, and was elected governor in his own right in 2010 with 59.06% of the vote, as the largest percentage margin of any Alaska governor since statehood. In 2014, he narrowly lost his bid for re-election and returned to work in the private sector. He is a member of the Republican Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 United States Senate election in Alaska</span>

The 2008 United States Senate election in Alaska was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator and former President pro tempore Ted Stevens ran for re-election for an eighth term in the United States Senate. It was one of the ten Senate races that U.S. Senator John Ensign of Nevada, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, predicted as being most competitive. The primaries were held on August 26, 2008. Stevens was challenged by Democratic candidate Mark Begich, the mayor of Anchorage and son of former U.S. Representative Nick Begich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska</span>

The 2008 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska was held on November 4, 2008, to determine who will represent the state of Alaska in the United States House of Representatives. Alaska has one seat in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; whoever was elected would serve in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009, until January 3, 2011. The election coincided with the nationwide presidential election. The primary election was held August 26, 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Egan</span> American politician (1947–2022)

Dennis William Egan was an American politician who was a member of the Alaska Senate representing Juneau from April 19, 2009, until January 15, 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the mayor of Juneau from February 13, 1995, to October 3, 2000, and was a member of the local assembly prior to that. Outside of politics, he was known for his work as a radio broadcaster, most notably for KINY, and was inducted to the Alaskan Broadcaster Association's Hall of Fame in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hollis French</span> American attorney and politician from Alaska

Hollis S. French II is an American attorney, businessman and politician. He served in the Alaska Senate from 2003 to 2015. He was minority leader from January 2014 until he left office. During this time, French authored an unsuccessful bill to strike down the state's same-sex marriage ban. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 United States presidential election in Alaska</span> Election in Alaska

The 2008 United States presidential election in Alaska took place on November 4, 2008, as part of the nationwide presidential election held throughout all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Voters chose 3 electors, or representatives to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska</span>

An election was held on November 2, 2010, to determine the U.S. representative for Alaska's at-large congressional district, which includes the entire state of Alaska. Don Young, the incumbent and a member of the Republican Party, was re-elected to a twentieth term to serve in the 112th Congress from January 3, 2011, until January 3, 2013. A primary election was held on August 24, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Alaska gubernatorial election</span> Election for the governorship of the U.S. state of Alaska

The 2010 Alaska gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010. Former Governor Sarah Palin did not run, having resigned in July 2009. Incumbent Governor Sean Parnell, who as lieutenant governor succeeded Palin following her resignation, announced that he would seek a full term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Campbell (politician)</span> American politician and businessman

Craig Eaton Campbell is an American politician and businessman who served as the president and CEO of the Alaska Aerospace Corporation (AAC). He joined the corporation as chief operating officer in February 2011, and was appointed president and CEO by the board of directors in October 2012.

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

The 2014 United States Senate election in Alaska took place on November 4, 2014, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Alaska, concurrently with the election of 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">2014 Alaska gubernatorial election</span> Election for the governorship of the U.S. state of Alaska

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">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 & 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 is the second Alaska-born governor, after William A. Egan.

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

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">2021 Anchorage mayoral election</span> Election for Anchorage mayor

The 2021 Anchorage mayoral election was held on April 6, 2021, to elect the mayor of Anchorage, Alaska. 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. 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. 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. Bronson was sworn in on July 1.

<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 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">2022 Alaska's at-large congressional district special election</span>

The 2022 Alaska's at-large congressional district special election was held on August 16, 2022. Democrat Mary Peltola won the open seat, thereby becoming the first of her party to win a U.S. House election in Alaska since 1972. Peltola, who is a Yup'ik woman, is the first Alaska Native elected to Congress, and the first woman elected to represent Alaska in the House. She defeated Republican former governor Sarah Palin in the state's first ranked-choice general election.

References

  1. ↑ Hughes, Zachariah (April 18, 2018). "Anchorage officials certify vote-by-mail results". KTOO-TV . Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  2. 1 2 Herz, Nathaniel (October 13, 2020). "Anchorage Mayor Berkowitz has resigned". Alaska Public Media .
  3. 1 2 Baker, Mike (October 13, 2020). "Anchorage Mayor Resigns After Admitting to 'Inappropriate' Relationship With TV Anchor". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Anchorage mayor admits to "inappropriate" relationship with TV reporter who was arrested". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  5. ↑ https://www.jweekly.com/2017/04/26/anchorages-jewish-mayor-is-one-of-the-frozen-chosen-and-an-s-f-native/&ved=2ahUKEwiP6vmw4bTsAhUFRqwKHRQDAa4QFjABegQICBAC&usg=AOvVaw3c_XB4bBNvbuRkj-7ewXG7 [ dead link ]
  6. ↑ Archived August 20, 2014, at the Wayback Machine , State of Alaska, Division of Elections, 1996. Retrieved April 29, 2001
  7. ↑ Michael O'Brien, "Stevens wins primary, Young locked in a nail biter" Archived September 22, 2008, at the Wayback Machine , TheHill.com, August 27, 2008.
  8. ↑ ap.google.com, Young retains US House seat in Alaska [ dead link ]
  9. ↑ kfor.com, Young retains US House seat in Alaska [ permanent dead link ]
  10. ↑ Anchorage Daily News, The other congressional race – Berkowitz concedes to Young Archived May 16, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ Toeplitz, Shira (December 3, 2008). "Berkowitz Ponders Rematch With Young in Alaska". Roll Call . Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  12. ↑ Toeplitz, Shira (June 16, 2009). "Young May Avoid Hard Race in 2010". Roll Call . Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  13. ↑ "This Democrat Is Itching To Run Against Sarah Palin for Governor – The Eye (CQ Politics)". Blogs.cqpolitics.com. May 27, 2009. Archived from the original on May 31, 2009. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  14. ↑ Election Night 2010: Incumbents Parnell and Young Re-Elected, Possibly Murkowski, APRN October 3, 2010
  15. ↑ "Halcro makes last-minute Berkowitz endorsement in mayoral race". Pipeline. May 4, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  16. ↑ Klint, Chris (May 5, 2015). "Berkowitz defeats Demboski by wide margin to become Anchorage mayor". KTUU-TV. Archived from the original on May 7, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Berkowitz holds big lead over Demboski in runoff race for mayor". Alaska Dispatch News . May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  18. ↑ Marans, Daniel, "Incest Becomes Last-Minute Campaign Issue In Anchorage Mayoral Race," Huffington Post, May 5, 2015. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  19. ↑ Wilson, Bernadette, "Surprise: Anchorage Mayoral Candidate Ethan Berkowitz Really Did Support Disgusting Father-Son Marriage," Restoring Liberty, May 2, 2015. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  20. ↑ Recording of remark [ permanent dead link ]: "On eve of Election Day, recording of provocative radio interview released," KTUU TV, May 4, 2015. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  21. ↑ Kelly, Devin (July 1, 2015). "Berkowitz sworn in as Anchorage mayor in downtown ceremony". Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Berkowitz goes to work for consulting firm". Alaskadispatch.com. February 11, 2011. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  23. ↑ Kelly, Devin, "Anchorage radio station KFQD drops Bernadette Wilson's show," Anchorage Dispatch News, December 31, 2015, updated July 8, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
Alaska House of Representatives
Preceded by Minority Leader of the Alaska House of Representatives
1999–2006		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic Leader of the Alaska House of Representatives
1999–2006		Succeeded by
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Alaska
2006 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Alaska
2010 		Succeeded by
Byron Mallott
Withdrew
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Anchorage
2015–2020		Succeeded by
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.