| Election Name: | 2010 Alaska gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Alaska |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2006 Alaska gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2006 |
| Next Election: | 2014 Alaska gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2014 |
| Election Date: | November 2, 2010 |
| Image1: | File:Former Governor of Alaska Sean Parnell.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Sean Parnell |
| Running Mate1: | Mead Treadwell |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 151,318 |
| Percentage1: | 59.06% |
| Nominee2: | Ethan Berkowitz |
| Running Mate2: | Diane E. Benson |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 96,519 |
| Percentage2: | 37.67% |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Sean Parnell |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Sean Parnell |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
The 2010 Alaska gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010. Former Governor Sarah Palin did not run, having resigned in July 2009.[1] Incumbent Governor Sean Parnell, who as lieutenant governor succeeded Palin following her resignation, announced that he would seek a full term.[2]
Following the primary election on Tuesday, August 24, 2010, the Democratic ticket consists of Ethan Berkowitz and Diane E. Benson running against Republican Parnell and his running mate, Mead Treadwell.[3] In the general election Parnell/Treadwell defeated Berkowitz/Benson by a wide margin.[4]
Parnell received over 59% of the vote, which is the highest percentage for any Alaska gubernatorial candidate in history. This is the only election in Alaskan history where any party won three consecutive gubernatorial elections.
| Poll source | Dates administered | Sean Parnell | Ralph Samuels | Bill Walker | Undecided | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hellenthal & Associates | July 22–25, 2010 | align=center | 60% | 13% | 15% | 12% | |
| Basswood Research | February 27–28, 2010 | align=center | 69% | 9% | 4% | 21% |
In Alaska, the lieutenant governor runs separately from the governor in the primary election. The respective party nominees for each office are then joined together as a party ticket in the general election. Occasionally, a minor party will nominate a candidate for governor, but without a running mate.
| Source | Ranking | As of | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cook Political Report[10] | October 14, 2010 | ||
| Rothenberg[11] | October 28, 2010 | ||
| RealClearPolitics[12] | November 1, 2010 | ||
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[13] | October 28, 2010 | ||
| CQ Politics[14] | October 28, 2010 |
| Poll source | Dates administered | Sean Parnell (R) | Ethan Berkowitz (D) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNN/Time Magazine | October 15–19, 2010 | align=center | 62% | 36% | |
| Rasmussen Reports | October 13, 2010 | align=center | 52% | 39% | |
| CNN/Time Magazine | September 24–28, 2010 | align=center | 57% | 38% | |
| Rasmussen Reports | September 19, 2010 | align=center | 54% | 34% | |
| Rasmussen Reports | August 31, 2010 | align=center | 53% | 43% | |
| Public Policy Polling | August 27–28, 2010 | align=center | 55% | 37% | |
| Basswood Research | August 28–29, 2010 | align=center | 54% | 40% | |
| Rasmussen Reports | July 15, 2010 | align=center | 53% | 34% | |
| Rasmussen Reports | May 6, 2010 | align=center | 58% | 30% |
Campaign activity disclosure reports are filed with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. For the period ending February 1, 2010, the candidates and others subject to filing have reported the following to APOC:
| Candidate | Cash on hand | Candidate's own money | Total income | Total expenses | Total debts | Surplus/ (deficit) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkowitz | $0 | $10,295.77 | $128,178.52 | $19,500.20 | $0 | $108,678.32 | |
| Parnell | $0 | $0 | $214,696.77 | $93,842.38 | $2,025.00 | $123,150.38 |