2020 Alaska Senate election

The 2020 Alaska Senate elections are taking place as part of the biennial 2020 United States elections. Alaska voters will elect state senators in 11 of the state's 20 senate districts – the usual ten plus one special election. State senators serve four-year terms in the Alaska Senate, with half seats up for election every two years. The primary elections on August 18, 2020, will determine which candidates will appear on the November 3, 2020, general election ballot.

For the federal election, see 2020 United States Senate election in Alaska.
2020 Alaska Senate election
November 3, 2020
11 of 20 seats in the Alaska Senate
11 seats needed for a majority
 
Leader Cathy Giessel Tom Begich
Party Republican Democratic
Leader's seat N District J District
Current seats 14 6
Incumbent Senate President

Cathy Giessel
Republican
Elections in Alaska

Following the previous election in 2018, Republicans had control of the Alaska Senate with 14 seats[lower-alpha 1] to Democrats' 6 seats.

Composition
Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Republican Democratic Vacant
Before Election 14[lower-alpha 1] 6 20 0
After Election 20
Change

Summary
District Incumbent Party Elected Senator Party
B John Coghill Rep
D David S. Wilson Rep
F Shelley Hughes Rep
H Bill Wielechowski Dem
J Tom Begich Dem Tom Begich[lower-alpha 2] Dem
L Natasha von Imhof Rep
M special Josh Revak Rep
N Cathy Giessel Dem
P Gary Stevens Rep
R Bert Stedman Rep
T Donny Olson Dem

Detailed results

 B District • D District • F District • H District • J District • L District • M District Special Election • N District • P District • R District • T District 

B District

John Coghill, the incumbent since 2009, is facing opposition in the Republican primary from Robert Myers Jr., who announced his candidacy for the seat on July 10.[1]

Republican Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Coghill (incumbent)
Republican Robert Myers Jr.
Total votes
General Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
Total votes

D District

David S. Wilson, the incumbent since 2017, is facing opposition in the Republican primary from five other candidates.[2] Thomas Lamb, who filed as a nonpartisan on the Democratic primary ticket, will qualify automatically for the general election.[3]

Republican Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David S. Wilson (incumbent)
Republican Huhnkie Lee
Republican Chandra McCain-Finch
Republican Bernadette Rupright
Republican Loy Thurman
Republican Stephen Wright
Total votes
General Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
Nonpartisan Thomas Lamb
Total votes

F District

Republican Shelley Hughes, the incumbent since 2017, and Democrat Stephany Jeffers are the only two candidates to file for this seat. They will both advance unopposed to the general election.[4]

General Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Shelley Hughes (incumbent)
Democratic Stephany Jeffers
Total votes

H District

Democrat Bill Wielechowski, the incumbent since 2007, and Republican Madeline Gaiser are the only two candidates to file for this seat. They will both advance unopposed to the general election.[5]

General Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bill Wielechowski (incumbent)
Republican Madeline Gaiser
Total votes

J District

Democrat Tom Begich, the incumbent since 2017, was the only candidate to file for this seat. He will run unopposed in the general election.[5]

General Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tom Begich (incumbent)
Total votes
Democratic hold

L District

Natasha von Imhof, the incumbent since 2016, is facing opposition in the Republican primary from challenger Stephen Duplantis.[6] Roselynn Cacy, the only Democrat to file, will qualify automatically for the general election.[5]

Republican Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Natasha von Imhof (incumbent)
Republican Stephen Duplantis
Total votes
General Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
Democratic Roselynn Cacy
Total votes

M District Special Election

After the death of Sen. Chris Birch in August 2019,[7] Governor Mike Dunleavy appointed state representative Josh Revak to the Senate the following month. Revak is running as the incumbent and is seeking his first full term. He is being challenged by two candidates in the Republican primary.[8] In addition, two candidates are contesting the Democratic primary.

Republican Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Josh Revak (incumbent)
Republican Harold Borbridge
Republican Ray Metcalfe
Total votes
Democratic Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Anita Thorne
Democratic Nicholas Willie
Total votes
General Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
Democratic
Total votes

N District

Cathy Giessel, the incumbent since 2011 and the President of the Senate since January 2019, is facing opposition in the Republican primary from DOT&PF measurement scientist Roger Holland.[9] Additionally, two candidates are contesting the Democratic primary.[10]

Republican Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Cathy Giessel (incumbent)
Republican Roger Holland
Total votes
Democratic Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Lynette Moreno Hinz
Democratic Carl Johnson
Total votes
General Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
Democratic
Total votes

P District

Gary Stevens, the incumbent since 2003, is facing opposition in the Republican primary from former state house candidate John Cox.[11] Challenger Greg Madden will contest the general election on the Alaskan Independence Party ticket.[12]

Republican Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gary Stevens (incumbent)
Republican John Cox
Total votes
General Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
Alaskan Independence Greg Madden
Total votes

R District

Bert Stedman, the incumbent since 2003, is facing opposition in the Republican primary from handyman Michael Sheldon.[13]

Republican Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bert Stedman (incumbent)
Republican Michael Sheldon
Total votes
General Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
Total votes

T District

Donny Olson, the incumbent since 2001, is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. Two Republican candidates, Kotzebue vice-mayor Thomas Baker and Deering tribal president Calvin Moto II, have filed to challenge him for the seat.[14]

Republican Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Baker
Republican Calvin Moto II
Total votes
General Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donny Olson (incumbent)
Republican
Total votes

See also

Notes
  1. This number includes one registered Democrat that caucuses with the Republicans.
  2. Did not face opposition in the general election.

References
  1. Tewksbury, Sara. "Republican Robert Myers runs for Senator John Coghill's seat". webcenterfairbanks.com. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  2. "State of Alaska Official Sample Ballot: August 18, 2020 Alaska Republican Party Primary | House District 8" (PDF). elections.alaska.gov. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  3. Landfield, Jeff (26 July 2020). "The Sunday Minefield – July 26, 2020". The Alaska Landmine. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  4. Rockey, Tim. "Candidates file for 2020 elections". Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  5. Buxton, Matt (5 June 2020). "It's the year of the contested primary, especially for incumbent Republicans". The Midnight Sun. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  6. Downing, Suzanne (5 June 2020). "Candidate Duplantis thinks 'COVID is a hoax and George Floyd didn't exist'". Must Read Alaska. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  7. "Anchorage state Sen. Chris Birch dies at 68". Anchorage Daily News. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  8. Brooks, James (21 June 2020). "In Alaska primary elections, it's Republican versus Republican, with dividends as the battleground". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  9. Downing, Suzanne (21 January 2020). "Senate Pres. Cathy Giessel gets primary challenger". Must Read Alaska. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  10. Thompson, John (2 June 2020). "Here's who Alaskans will find on the August primary ballot". www.ktva.com. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  11. Pacer, Megan (21 July 2020). "John Cox makes a run at Senate District P seat". Homer News. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  12. Pacer, Megan (21 July 2020). "Soldotna's Greg Madden makes bid for Alaska Senate". Homer News. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  13. Tewksbury, Sara. "Republican Robert Myers runs for Senator John Coghill's seat". webcenterfairbanks.com. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  14. Early, Wesley (1 June 2020). "Kotzebue's Thomas Baker adds name to list of Republican challengers to Sen. Donny Olson". KOTZ Radio 720 AM. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
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