Governor Mike Dunleavy attends the AFN Statewide Candidat Forum, October 22, 2022 at Dena’ina Center. (Photo by Elyssa Leighlin/Alaska Public Media).

The incumbent Republican governor. After a final vote count, Mike Dunleavy was elected to a second term.

With 50.3% vote, Dunleavy won the election. The Division of Elections won’t tabulate second- or third-choice vote results in this race because Dunleavy secured more than half of the first-choice voters.

Dunleavy, a former Department of Corrections Commissioner Nancy Dahlstrom, will join Dunleavy in the office.

Although the governor is leading in his race with over half of the votes since election night, he stated that it was a relief to have the results in hand.

He said that it brought some closure and allowed him to move on and plan for the next four-years. It’s a great day for us and, I believe, it’s also a good one for Alaska.

Dunleavy is currently the only statewide candidate to win their race. The races for U.S. House, U.S. Senate will be going to ranked choice tabulation Wednesday afternoon. Dunleavy described it as an affirmation for his leadership.

There are still many close races in legislative elections. Also, questions remain about how the state House or state Senate will be organized for the next session. According to the governor, his administration is open to working with any lawmaker that “wants Alaska to move forward.”

He said, “I think the part of this election is that people don’t care about the personalization or the politicalization some of these relationships.”

The first four-year term of Dunleavy began with the call for 1,200 state employees to resign and severe budget cuts that would have a negative impact on the university system, ferries, and Medicaid. The initial hardline policies of his administration led to a recall effort that was later stopped by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wednesday’s governor stated that he is looking forward to continuing his first term, putting public safety, food security, and energy security at the forefront.

Dunleavy is the first Republican governor of Alaska to win reelection in over 40 years, since Jay Hammond’s 1978 victory.

Second place was won by Les Gara, a Democrat with 24.2%. Independent Bill Walker claimed 20,7%, while Republican Charlie Pierce received 4.5%.

Gara and Jessica Cook, Gara’s running mate, conceded the race in an email statement Wednesday afternoon. They said, “We wish Governor Dunleavy & Lt. Governor Dahlstrom best wishes as he navigates a difficult road ahead, regardless of who won the election.