2010 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska explained

Election Name:2010 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska
Country:Alaska
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2008 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska
Previous Year:2008
Next Election:2012 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska
Next Year:2012
Election Date:November 2, 2010
Image1:Image:Don Young, official photo portrait, color, 2006 (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:Don Young
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:175,384
Percentage1:69.0%
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:77,606
Percentage2:30.5%
Map Size:325px
U.S. Representative
Before Election:Don Young
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Don Young
After Party:Republican Party (United States)

An election was held on November 2, 2010, to determine the U.S. representative for Alaska's at-large congressional district, which includes the entire state of Alaska. Don Young, the incumbent and a member of the Republican Party, was re-elected to a twentieth term to serve in the 112th Congress from January 3, 2011, until January 3, 2013.[1] A primary election was held on August 24, 2010.[2]

Alaska's population was 66 percent white, 13 percent Native American, 6 percent Hispanic and 4 percent Asian (see Race and ethnicity in the United States census); 91 percent were high school graduates and 27 percent had received a bachelor's degree or higher. Its median income was $66,293.[3] In the 2008 presidential election, Alaska gave 59 percent of its vote to Republican nominee John McCain and 38 percent to Democratic nominee Barack Obama.[4] Republican Don Young was the incumbent. Young was re-elected with 50 percent of the vote in 2008.[4]

Campaign

In 2010 Young's opponent in the general election was Democratic nominee Harry Crawford, a member of the Alaska House of Representatives and former ironworker.[5] John R. Cox and Sheldon Fisher, a former telecommunications executive, also sought the Republican nomination.[6] Andrew Halcro, a former member of the state House of Representatives who unsuccessfully tan for Governor of Alaska in 2006, said in September 2009 that he would challenge Young in the 2010 Republican primary,[7] but in February 2010 said he was reconsidering his decision.[8] Gabrielle LeDoux, a former member of the state House of Representatives who sought the Republican nomination in the district in 2008, said in July 2009 that she would not run in 2010 if Young sought re-election.[9] Crawford was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.[10] Ethan Berkowitz, the former minority leader of the state House of Representatives who unsuccessfully challenged Young as the Democratic nominee in 2008, said in December of that year that he was considering running again,[11] but said in July 2009 that he would not run.

Young raised $1,001,015 and spent $887,310. Crawford raised $240,439 and spent $235,571.[12] Fisher raised $177,981 and spent the same amount.[13]

In a poll of 710 voters, conducted by Public Policy Polling (PPP) on January 27 and 28, 2010, Young led with 49 percent to Crawford's 34 percent, while 17 percent were undecided.[14] A PPP poll of 1,306 likely voters, conducted on August 27 and 28, 2010, found that Young had the support of 55 percent while 36 percent favored Crawford and 8 percent were undecided.[15] In a poll of 573 registered and likely voters, conducted between September 23 and 27, 2010, by Ivan Moore Research, Young led with 65 percent to Crawford's 32 percent, while 4 percent were undecided.[16] A poll of 1,678 likely voters, conducted by PPP on October 9 and 10, 2010, found Young leading Crawford by 58 percent to 36 percent, while 6 percent were undecided.[17]

Prior to the election FiveThirtyEights forecast gave Young a 100 percent chance of winning and projected that he would receive 65 percent of the vote to Crawford's 35 percent.[18] On election day Young was re-elected with 69 percent to Crawford's 31 percent.[19] Young was again re-elected in 2012,[20] 2014,[21] 2016,[22] and 2018.[23]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Young's 20th win for House overshadowed by Senate race. November 2, 2010. May 26, 2014. Anchorage Daily News. Mark. Thiessen. May 27, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140527211714/http://www.adn.com/2010/11/02/1531664/crawford-young-vie-for-house-seat.html. dead.
  2. Web site: State of Alaska 2010 Primary Election. September 13, 2010. May 26, 2014. State of Alaska Division of Elections.
  3. Web site: Alaska At-Large District Profile. May 26, 2014. The New York Times.
  4. Web site: Alaska – At Large. May 26, 2014. Roll Call.
  5. Web site: Crawford hoping to unseat Young. September 10, 2010. May 27, 2014. Juneau Empire. Pat. Forgey. https://web.archive.org/web/20140528005552/http://juneauempire.com/stories/091010/sta_706203940.shtml. May 28, 2014. dead.
  6. Web site: Long-shot Fisher challenges Young in primary. August 21, 2010. May 27, 2014. Anchorage Daily News. Dan. Joling. May 27, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140527211712/http://www.adn.com/2010/08/21/1419493/long-shot-fisher-challenges-young.html. dead.
  7. Web site: Halcro says he will challenge Rep. Don Young in 2010 race. September 11, 2009. December 7, 2018. Juneau Empire. Thiessen. Mark. https://web.archive.org/web/20151025055723/https://www.juneauempire.com/stories/091109/sta_491946413.shtml. October 25, 2015.
  8. Web site: Halcro unsure of race against Don Young. February 23, 2010. December 7, 2018. Anchorage Daily News. Cockerham. Sean. https://web.archive.org/web/20100225225322/http://community.adn.com/node/149476. February 25, 2010. dead.
  9. Web site: Young May Avoid Hard Race in 2010. June 16, 2009. May 27, 2014. Roll Call. Toeplitz. Shira.
  10. Web site: Young, Crawford to vie for U.S. House. August 25, 2010. May 27, 2014. KTUU. Ted. Land. Jason. Lamb. https://web.archive.org/web/20140528005838/http://articles.ktuu.com/2010-08-25/vote_24129425. May 28, 2014. dead.
  11. Web site: Berkowitz Ponders Rematch With Young in Alaska. December 3, 2008. May 27, 2014. Roll Call. Toeplitz. Shira.
  12. Web site: Alaska District 01 Race. May 27, 2014. OpenSecrets.
  13. Web site: Sheldon Fisher (R). May 27, 2014. OpenSecrets.
  14. Web site: Republicans looking strong in Alaska. February 1, 2010. May 27, 2014. Public Policy Polling.
  15. Web site: Parnell, Young Safe in Alaska. September 2, 2010. May 27, 2014. Public Policy Polling.
  16. Web site: September Alaska survey results. May 27, 2014. Ivan Moore Research. https://web.archive.org/web/20111103131253/http://community.adn.com/sites/community.adn.com/files/release%20(2).pdf. November 3, 2011. dead.
  17. Web site: Daily Kos AK Poll. May 27, 2014. Daily Kos.
  18. Web site: Alaska At-Large District. May 27, 2014. FiveThirtyEight.
  19. Web site: State of Alaska 2010 General Election: November 2, 2010. November 30, 2010. May 27, 2014. State of Alaska Division of Elections. https://web.archive.org/web/20191121015145/http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/10GENR/data/resultsOF.htm. November 21, 2019. dead.
  20. Web site: Romney takes Alaska; U.S. Rep. Don Young wins 21st term. November 7, 2012. May 27, 2014. USA Today. Mark. Thiessen.
  21. Web site: Despite recent missteps, Young sweeps back into office over Dunbar. November 4, 2014. November 23, 2014. Alaska Dispatch News. Dermot. Cole.
  22. Web site: Alaska U.S. House At-Large Results: Don Young Wins. August 1, 2017. December 2, 2018. The New York Times.
  23. News: Alaska Republican Rep. Young holds off challenge. November 7, 2018. December 2, 2018. The Washington Post. Reis. Thebault.