2021 Anchorage mayoral election explained

Election Name:2021 Anchorage mayoral election
Flag Image:Flag of Anchorage, Alaska.svg
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2018 Anchorage mayoral election
Previous Year:2018
Next Election:2024 Anchorage mayoral election
Next Year:2024
Election Date:April 6, 2021 (first round)[1]
May 11, 2021 (runoff)
Turnout:31.88% (first round)[2]
38.35% (runoff)[3]
1Blank:First round
2Blank:Runoff
Image1:File:Dave bronson (cropped).jpg
Candidate1:Dave Bronson
Colour1:c0c0c0
1Data1:24,567
32.96%
2Data1:45,937
50.66%
Candidate2:Forrest Dunbar
Colour2:c0c0c0
1Data2:23,054
30.93%
2Data2:44,744
49.34%
Image3:File:3x4.svg
Candidate3:Bill Falsey
Colour3:c0c0c0
1Data3:9,551
12.82%
2Data3:Eliminated
Candidate4:Bill Evans
Colour4:c0c0c0
1Data4:7,073
9.49%
2Data4:Eliminated
Candidate5:Mike Robbins
Colour5:c0c0c0
1Data5:5,766
7.74%
2Data5:Eliminated
Mayor
Before Election:Austin Quinn-Davidson
Before Party:Independent politician
After Election:Dave Bronson
After Party:Republican Party (United States)

The 2021 Anchorage mayoral election was held on April 6, 2021, to elect the mayor of Anchorage, Alaska.[1] 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.[4] [5] 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.[6] [7] [8] 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.[9] Bronson was sworn in on July 1.[5]

Background

Ethan Berkowitz was elected mayor in 2015 and 2018 and was ineligible to run for a third term. On October 13, 2020, he announced his resignation through his chief of staff Jason Bockenstadt at a meeting of the Anchorage Assembly, Anchorage's city council, to be effective October 23. The resignation came after a reporter made allegations that he was engaged in an inappropriate relationship with her. Felix Rivera, chair of the Anchorage Assembly, was next in the line of succession to the office. After a failed attempt immediately following the resignation announcement, the Assembly met in a special meeting on October 16 to reorganize itself, installing Austin Quinn-Davidson as Assembly chair with Rivera as vice-chair. This move allowed Quinn-Davidson to succeed to the office of mayor and allowed Rivera to retain his position presiding over Assembly meetings.[10] Quinn-Davidson is both the first female and first openly gay mayor of Anchorage.[11] On November 4, the Assembly voted not to hold a special election for the position of mayor, meaning that the next election for the seat would be the regularly scheduled one in 2021.[12]

General election

In the leadup to the general election, it was widely believed that there would be a runoff between Dunbar and one of the more conservative candidates.[5]

Candidates

Major candidates

Other registered candidates

Withdrawn

Declined

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of February 18, 2021
Candidate (party, if known)Total raised
Anna Anthonydid not file
Dave Bronson (R)$162,482
Jeffrey Browndid not file
Darin Colbry (R)$0
Forrest Dunbar (D)$252,216
Bill Evans (I)$98,480
Bill Falsey (I)$106,285
Heather Herndon$0
Jacob Seth Kern (D)did not file
George Martinez (D)$60,086
Reza Momindid not file
Mike Robbins (R)$210,058
Albert Swank Jr.$0
Jacob Versteegdid not file
Joe Westfalldid not file
[23]

Debates

Five candidates did not participate in either debate: Anna Anthony, Darin Colbry, Jacob Seth Kern, Reza Momin, and Jacob Versteeg.

Results

Runoff

In the leadup to the runoff, third-place primary finisher Falsey and sixth-place finisher Martinez endorsed Dunbar, while fifth-place finisher Robbins endorsed Bronson.[26] [27] Fourth-place finisher Evans did not make an endorsement.

Results

External links

Official campaign websites

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Republican Mike Robbins joins 2021 Anchorage mayoral race. August 20, 2020. Anchorage Daily News.
  2. https://www.muni.org/Departments/Assembly/Clerk/Elections/Election_Results/2021_Official_Results-_initialed.pdf Official Results 2021
  3. http://www.muni.org/Departments/Assembly/Clerk/Elections/Election_Results/May_11_2021_Mayor_Runoff_Election_Official_Results.pdf Official Results 2021
  4. Web site: Dave Bronson, backed by ‘Save Anchorage’ group, enters crowded mayoral race. August 26, 2020. Anchorage Daily News.
  5. Web site: 2021-02-15. In a crowded race, many candidates for Anchorage mayor say they’re aiming to make it to an expected runoff. 2021-06-09. Anchorage Daily News. en-US.
  6. Web site: George. Kavitha. Anchorage. Alaska Public Media-. 2020-10-17. Assembly reorganizes, elects Austin Quinn-Davidson to become interim mayor. 2020-10-17. Alaska Public Media. en-US.
  7. Web site: Buxton. Matt. 2018-08-08. Progressive Quinn-Davidson wins big in Anchorage Assembly special election. 2020-10-17. The Midnight Sun. en-US.
  8. Web site: Anchorage municipal manager files to run for mayor. Cheyenne. Mathews. Alaska's News Source.
  9. Web site: 2021-05-22. Bronson set to win race for Anchorage mayor; Dunbar concedes. 2021-05-22. Anchorage Daily News. en-US.
  10. News: Goodykoontz. Emily. Anchorage Assembly chooses Austin Quinn-Davidson to serve as acting mayor. November 21, 2020. Anchorage Daily News. October 16, 2020.
  11. Web site: Anchorage chooses 1st woman, openly gay acting mayor. NBC News.
  12. Web site: Anchorage Assembly rejects special election for mayor. November 5, 2020. Anchorage Daily News.
  13. Web site: George. Kavitha. Anchorage. Alaska Public Media-. 2021-01-18. Candidates begin filing for Anchorage municipal office. 2021-06-09. Alaska Public Media. en-US.
  14. Web site: 2021-01-21. Here’s who has filed to run for Anchorage mayor and the Anchorage School Board so far. 2021-06-09. Anchorage Daily News. en-US.
  15. Web site: Forrest Dunbar. 2021-06-09. Ballotpedia. en.
  16. Web site: 2021-01-30. Here are all the candidates running for Anchorage mayor and school board. 2021-06-09. Anchorage Daily News. en-US.
  17. Web site: 2020-12-06. 2021 Anchorage mayoral race takes shape with a crowded field. 2021-01-04. Anchorage Daily News. en-US.
  18. Web site: Darin Colbry. 2021-06-09. Ballotpedia. en.
  19. Web site: Anchorage Mayoral Candidate Profiles | The Northern Light. T. N. L.. Staff. November 19, 2020. November 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201127042739/http://www.thenorthernlight.org/anchorage-mayoral-candidate-profiles/. dead.
  20. Web site: 2021 Elections Mayor Candidate - Jacob Versteeg. 2021-06-09. Alaska Public Media. en-US.
  21. Web site: Dustin Darden. 2021-06-09. Ballotpedia. en.
  22. Web site: Mayoral election in Anchorage, Alaska (2021). 2021-06-09. Ballotpedia. en.
  23. Web site: George. Kavitha. Anchorage. Alaska Public Media-. 2021-02-19. Dunbar, Robbins lead in fundraising for Anchorage mayoral race. 2021-06-09. Alaska Public Media. en-US.
  24. Web site: 2021-02-17. Watch: 6 Anchorage mayoral candidates debate homelessness and housing in online forum. 2021-06-09. Anchorage Daily News. en-US.
  25. Web site: 2021-03-19. Candidates for Anchorage mayor are set to debate in online forum Thursday night. Here’s how to watch.. 2021-06-09. Anchorage Daily News. en-US.
  26. Web site: Falsey endorses Dunbar and Robbins endorses Bronson in race for Anchorage mayor. Emily. Goodykoontz. Achorage Daily News.
  27. Web site: George Martinez endorses Forrest Dunbar in Anchorage mayoral race. Emily. Goodykoontz. Achorage Daily News.

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