1990 Alaska gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:1990 Alaska gubernatorial election
Country:Alaska
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1986 Alaska gubernatorial election
Previous Year:1986
Election Date:November 6, 1990
Next Election:1994 Alaska gubernatorial election
Next Year:1994
Image1:File:Hickel.gif
Image Upright:0.6
Nominee1:Wally Hickel
Party1:Alaskan Independence Party
Running Mate1:Jack Coghill
Popular Vote1:75,721
Percentage1:38.88%
Governor
Before Election:Steve Cowper
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Wally Hickel
After Party:Alaskan Independence Party
Nominee2:Tony Knowles
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Running Mate2:Willie Hensley
Popular Vote2:60,201
Percentage2:30.91%
Image3:Arliss86.jpg
Nominee3:Arliss Sturgulewski
Party3:Republican Party (United States)
Running Mate3:Jim Campbell
Popular Vote3:50,991
Percentage3:26.18%
Map Size:325px

The 1990 Alaska gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1990, for the open seat of Governor of Alaska. In 1989, incumbent Governor Steve Cowper, a Democrat, had announced that he would not seek re-election for a second term.[1]

In a rare third-party win in American politics, former Republican Governor Wally Hickel, running on the ticket of the Alaskan Independence Party, defeated Democratic candidate Tony Knowles and Republican candidate Arliss Sturgulewski.

Candidates

Democratic Party

The major Democratic candidates were Tony Knowles, former mayor of Anchorage (from 1981 to 1987) and future governor (from 1994 to 2002), and incumbent Lieutenant Governor Stephen McAlpine, who had served since 1982. Knowles defeated McAlpine in the Democratic primary.

Republican Party

In the Republican primary, state senator Arliss Sturgulewski, who was also the Republican nominee in 1986, defeated Jim Campbell, Rick Halford and Don Wright.

Alaskan Independence Party

The initial Alaskan Independence Party candidate was John Lindauer, who won the primary. However, many conservative Republicans, dissatisfied with Sturgulewski's positions on social issues such as abortion, persuaded former Republican Governor Wally Hickel to run on the Alaskan Independence ticket. The party pushed Lindauer aside to make way for Hickel and lieutenant gubernatorial candidate Jack Coghill.

Others

Environmentalist and homeless rights activist Michael O'Callaghan ran as the candidate of The Political Party.[2] [3]

Results

Former Governor Wally Hickel defeated Knowles, Sturgulewski, and other minor candidates to return to the governor's office.

Notes and References

  1. News: Tegan. Hanlon . Former Alaska first lady Michael Margaret Stewart, ex-wife of Steve Cowper, dead at 62 . . 2015-10-27 . 2015-11-21.
  2. News: Reamer . David . How Michael O'Callaghan went from Anchorage activist to Portland's homeless mayoral candidate . November 12, 2020 . Anchorage Daily ews . March 8, 2020.
  3. News: Christiansen . Scott . Alleyway activism . November 12, 2020 . Anchorage Press . June 17, 2009.