Alaska

When Congress debated the statehood question in the 1950s, it was assumed that Alaska would be solidly Democratic, but this expectation has not been borne out; as of 2002 there were 462,388 registered voters, of which only nearly 16% were Democratic, while 25% were Republican and 59% were unaffiliated or members of other parties.

In 1990, a member of the Alaskan Independent party, Walter J. Hickel, was elected governor. Democrat Tony Knowles won the governorship in the November 1994 election and was reelected in 1998. Two Republicans, Frank Murkowski and Ted Stevens, were reelected to the US Senate in 1998 and 2002, respectively. Murkowski was elected Alaska's governor in 2002; he appointed his daughter Lisa to the US Senate to fill his vacancy when he assumed the office of governor.

In 2002 Alaska's US Representative, Republican Don Young, was reelected. In presidential elections since 1968, Alaskans have voted Republican nine consecutive times. Alaskans gave George W. Bush 59% of the vote in 2000, while Al Gore received 28% and Green Party candidate Ralph Nader garnered 10%. The state had three electoral votes in the 2000 presidential election. Alaska's state legislature in 2002 consisted of six Democrats and 14 Republicans in the senate, and 13 Democrats and 27 Republicans in the house. Twelve women held statewide elected office in 2002.

Alaska Presidential Vote by Major Political Parties, 1960–2000

Alaska Presidential Vote by Major Political Parties, 1960–2000