2020 United States Senate election in Alaska
The 2020 United States Senate election in Alaska was held on November 3, 2020, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Alaska , concurrently with the nationwide presidential election , as well as other elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives , and various state and local elections . Incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan won re-election to a second term in office, defeating Democratic nominee Al Gross , the son of Avrum Gross , who ran as an independent candidate .[ 2] John Wayne Howe, the nominee of the Alaskan Independence Party , was also on the ballot and finished a distant third.
Both primaries took place on August 18, 2020.[ 3] Some pundits considered this to be a potential "dark horse" flip for the Democrats, as Gross did unexpectedly well[ 4] in polling despite Alaska usually being considered a Republican stronghold, even leading in some polls.[ 5] However, this lead did not materialize. Sullivan won re-election by a margin of 12.7%, triple his average lead in the pre-election polling. Sullivan also became the first candidate since 2002 to win a Senate election in Alaska with more than 50% of the vote.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Withdrawn
Endorsements
Dan Sullivan
U.S. federal officials
Individuals
Primary results
Libertarian–Democratic–Independence primary
Candidates from the Alaska Democratic Party , the Alaska Libertarian Party , and the Alaskan Independence Party appear on the same ballot, with the highest-placed candidate from each party receiving that party's nomination. In October 2017, the Alaska Democratic Party sued for the right to allow non-Democrats to compete for and win the Democratic nomination, which was ultimately decided in their favor in April 2018.[ 12]
Democratic candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Disqualified from the ballot
Larry N. Barnes (independent)[ 8] [ b]
Withdrawn
David Darden (independent), nonpartisan candidate for Anchorage Assembly District 3 Seat E in the 2018 special election[ 8]
Alaskan Independence candidates
Nominee
John Howe (Alaskan Independence), machinist[ 14]
Endorsements
Al Gross
Local officials
Individuals
Organizations
Unions
Primary results
Other candidates
Green Party
Nominee
Independent
Declared
Withdrawn
David Matheny, wildfire technician[ 31] [ 32]
General election
Issues
Pebble Mine
Before the election, the Trump administration considered granting a permit for the construction of Pebble Mine , a copper , gold , and molybdenum mine in Bristol Bay .[ 33] Gross and Sullivan were both critical of the mine by August 2020, citing environmental concerns.[ 34] [ 35] In September 2020, recordings were released in which executives Tom Collier and Ron Thiessen stated that Alaska's senators, including Sullivan, would not take any concrete steps to oppose the mine despite their stated opposition.[ 36] Gross used the recordings to attack Sullivan, claiming that Sullivan actually supported Pebble Mine. In response, Sullivan clarified his opposition to the mine.[ 37] The mine was a major topic during the Senate debate on October 10. In the debate, Gross attacked Sullivan for being insufficiently opposed to the mine, while Sullivan defended his opposition.[ 38]
Predictions
Endorsements
Dan Sullivan (R)
U.S. federal officials
Organizations
Individuals
Labor unions
Newspapers
Al Gross (I)
U.S. senators
State executives
Local officials
Individuals
Organizations
Unions
Polls
Graphical summary
Polling
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size[ c]
Margin of error
Dan Sullivan (R)
Al Gross (I)
John Howe (AI)
Other
Undecided
Gravis Marketing [ 62]
October 26–28, 2020
770 (LV)
± 3.5%
48%
45%
–
–
7%
Public Policy Polling (D) [ 63] [ A]
October 19–20, 2020
800 (V)
± 3.5%
44%
41%
5%
–
10%
Change Research (I) [ 64] [ B]
October 16–19, 2020
1,076 (LV)
± 4%
47%
44%
3%
–
5%
Siena College /NYT Upshot [ 65]
October 9–14, 2020
423 (LV)
± 5.7%
45%
37%
10%
2%[ d]
7%[ e]
Harstad Strategic Research, Inc. (I) [ 66] [ B]
October 10–13, 2020
606 (LV)
± 4%
46%
47%
–
–
–
Harstad Strategic Research, Inc. (I) [ 66] [ B]
October 2–6, 2020
600 (LV)
–
46%
46%
–
–
–
Patinkin Research Strategies [ 67]
September 30 – October 4, 2020
600 (LV)
± 4%
46%
47%
–
2%[ f]
5%
Alaska Survey Research [ 68]
September 26 – October 4, 2020
696 (LV)
–
48%
44%
–
–
8%
Harstad Strategic Research, Inc. (I) [ 69] [ C]
September 20–23, 2020
602 (LV)
± 4%
46%
45%
–
–
–
Public Policy Polling (D) [ 70] [1]
August 27–28, 2020
638 (V)
± 3.9%
43%
43%
–
–
14%
Public Policy Polling [ 71] [ D]
July 7–8, 2020
1,081 (V)
± 3.0%
39%
34%
–
–
27%
Alaska Survey Research [ 72]
June 23 – July 7, 2020
663 (LV)
± 3.8%
53%
40%
–
–
7%
Hypothetical polling
with Forrest Dunbar
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size[ c]
Margin of error
Dan Sullivan (R)
Forrest Dunbar (D)
Undecided
Patinkin Research Strategies [ 73]
May 28 – Jun 4, 2019
500 (LV)
–
39%
39%
22%
with Forrest Dunbar as an independent
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size[ c]
Margin of error
Dan Sullivan (R)
Forrest Dunbar (I)
Undecided
Patinkin Research Strategies [ 73]
May 28 – June 4, 2019
500 (LV)
–
42%
40%
19%
Results
By state house district
By state house district
District[ 75]
Dan Sullivan Republican
Al Gross Independent
John HoweIndependence
Write-in
Margin
Total votes
Representative
#
%
#
%
#
%
#
%
#
%
District 1
3,487
48.36
3,293
45.67
414
5.74
16
0.22
194
2.69
7,210
Bart LeBon
District 2
3,379'
59.75
1,895
33.51
372
6.58
9
0.16
1,484
26.24
5,655
Steve M. Thompson
District 3
6,004
72.32
1,810
21.80
480
5.78
8
0.10
4,194
50.52
8,302
Mike Prax
District 4
4,817
45.69
5,301
50.28
407
3.86
17
0.16
-484
-4.59
10,542
Grier Hopkins
District 5
4,188
48.49
4,104
47.52
332
3.84
13
0.15
84
0.97
8,637
Adam Wool
District 6
5,601
60.87
3,068
33.34
518
5.63
15
0.16
2,533
16.66
9,202
Mike Cronk
District 7
6,752
70.90
2,185
22.94
563
5.91
23
0.24
4,567
47.96
9,523
Christopher Kurka
District 8
7,253
73.86
1,980
20.16
574
5.84
13
0.13
5,273
53.70
9,820
Kevin J. McCabe
District 9
7,582
69.53
2,786
25.55
519
4.76
17
0.16
4,796
43.98
10,904
George Rauscher
District 10
7,735
69.72
2,742
24.71
598
5.39
20
0.18
4,993
45.00
11,095
David Eastman
District 11
7,051
66.63
3,047
28.79
476
4.50
8
0.08
4,004
37.84
10,582
DeLena Johnson
District 12
7,877
70.73
2,824
25.36
425
3.82
11
0.10
5,053
45.37
11,137
Cathy Tilton
District 13
4,684
62.75
2,400
32.15
372
4.98
8
0.11
2,284
30.60
7,464
Ken McCarty
District 14
7,114
62.23
3,894
34.06
415
3.63
9
0.08
3,220
28.17
11,432
Kelly Merrick
District 15
2,613
48.61
2,449
45.56
308
5.73
5
0.09
164
3.05
5,375
David Nelson
District 16
3,545
43.87
4,110
50.87
410
5.07
15
0.19
-565
-6.99
8,080
Ivy Spohnholz
District 17
2,903
40.42
3,951
55.01
315
4.39
13
0.18
-1,048
-14.59
7,182
Andy Josephson
District 18
2,807
36.63
4,553
59.41
289
3.77
14
0.18
-1,746
-22.78
7,663
Harriet Drummond
District 19
1,876
35.73
3,046
58.01
310
5.90
19
0.36
-1,170
-22.28
5,251
Geran Tarr
District 20
2,526
33.95
4,657
62.59
243
3.27
14
0.19
-2,131
-28.64
7,440
Zack Fields
District 21
3,980
42.21
5,141
54.52
296
3.14
12
0.13
-1,161
-12.31
9,429
Matt Claman
District 22
4,977
52.16
4,202
44.04
336
3.52
26
0.27
775
7.91
9,541
Sara Rasmussen
District 23
3,734
48.38
3,638
47.14
335
4.34
11
0.14
96
1.24
7,718
Chris Tuck
District 24
5,835
55.87
4,363
41.78
238
2.28
7
0.07
1,472
14.10
10,443
Thomas McKay
District 25
4,556
49.07
4,367
47.03
350
3.77
12
0.13
189
2.04
9,285
Calvin Schrage
District 26
5,651
55.95
4,172
41.31
267
2.64
10
0.10
1,479
14.64
10,100
Laddie Shaw
District 27
4,534
47.76
{4,608
48.54
342
3.60
9
0.09
-74
-0.78
9,493
Liz Snyder
District 28
6,753
52.83
5,776
45.18
244
1.91
10
0.08
977
7.64
12,783
James D. Kaufman
District 29
7,237
67.86
2,923
27.41
497
4.66
7
0.07
4,314
40.45
10,664
Ben Carpenter
District 30
7,034
70.06
2,502
24.92
485
4.83
19
0.19
4,532
45.14
10,040
Ron Gillham
District 31
6,763
54.84
5,049
40.94
498
4.04
23
0.19
1,714
13.90
12,333
Sarah Vance
District 32
4,309
52.49
3,449
42.01
438
5.34
13
0.16
860
10.48
8,209
Louise Stutes
District 33
3,074
28.20
7,463
68.47
341
3.13
21
0.19
-4,389
-40.27
10,899
Sara Hannan
District 34
4,667
43.57
5,608
52.35
427
3.99
10
0.09
-941
-8.78
10,712
Andi Story
District 35
4,388
43.84
5,004
49.99
598
5.97
20
0.20
-616
-6.15
10,010
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
District 36
5,005
54.42
3,679
40.00
495
5.38
18
0.20
1,326
14.42
9,197
Dan Ortiz
District 37
2,393
47.17
2,303
45.40
366
7.21
11
0.22
90
1.77
5,073
Bryce Edgmon
District 38
1,698
32.07
2,972
56.13
610
11.52
15
0.28
-1,274
-24.06
5,295
Tiffany Zulkosky
District 39
2,403
41.03
2,701
46.12
699
11.93
54
0.92
-298
-5.09
5,857
Neal Foster
District 40
2,275
49.56
1,706
37.17
594
12.94
15
0.33
569
12.40
4,590
Josiah Patkotak
Totals
191,112
53.90
146,068
41.19
16,806
4.74
601
0.17
45,044
12.70
354,587
Boroughs and census areas that flipped from Democratic to Republican
Notes
^ a b c Gross ran as an independent with the nomination of the Democratic Party, and was listed on the ballot as the Democratic nominee.[ 1]
^ Payment of filing fee was not made prior to the deadline.
^ a b c Key: A – all adults RV – registered voters LV – likely voters V – unclear
^ Would not vote with 1%; "Someone else" with 0%
^ Includes "Refused"
^ "Someone else" with 2%
Partisan clients
^ Poll sponsored by Protect Our Care, a pro-Affordable Care Act organization.
^ a b c Poll conducted for Gross' campaign.
^ Poll sponsored by The Independent Alaska PAC, which has supported Al Gross's campaign for the US Senate race in Alaska prior to this poll's sampling period.
^ Polling's funding was crowdsourced by Election Twitter.
References
^ a b "Gross announces candidacy for Alaska US Senate seat" . Associated Press . June 2, 2019.
^ Taylor, Jessica (June 12, 2020). "Alaska Senate Moves to Likely Republican" . The Cook Political Report . Retrieved August 29, 2020 .
^ "Alaska Division of Elections" . www.elections.alaska.gov . Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2020 .
^ Burns, Katelyn (October 22, 2020). "Al Gross is hoping to ride Alaska's independent streak to the Senate" . Vox . Retrieved April 30, 2021 .
^ Nat Herz [@Nat_Herz] (October 18, 2020). "New Alaska poll by Patinkin Research Strategies (not sure who paid but they are doing work for Yes on 2 in AK) has Al Gross up 47–46 and Trump up 49–46 Unclear how exactly they included 3rd party candidates, which may account for difference bw this+recent NYT poll. #AKleg #AKsen" (Tweet ) – via Twitter .
^ "SULLIVAN, DAN – Candidate overview" . FEC.gov .
^ McCue, Dan (May 1, 2020). "Center for Politics Adds Alaska to Senate Battleground Map" . TheWell News . Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020 .
^ a b c d e "Alaska Division of Elections" . www.elections.alaska.gov . June 5, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2020 .
^ a b "President Trump endorses Sullivan re-election as US senator for Alaska" . KTUU . December 18, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2019 .
^ a b "Mark Levin Audio Rewind – 10/20/20" . Apple Podcasts . Retrieved November 1, 2020 .
^ a b "Alaska Secretary of State's office: Election Summary Report – Official Results" (PDF) .
^ Hertz, Nathaniel (April 4, 2018). "Independents can run in party primaries, Alaska Supreme Court says, opening door for Gov. Walker" . Anchorage Daily News .
^ "Alaska – Senate" . FEC . Retrieved May 17, 2020 .
^ "John Wayne Howe, Alaskan Independence Party, runs for U.S. Senate" . KTVF News . July 6, 2020.
^ a b "AK-Sen: Pete Buttigieg Jumps In To Help Dr. Al Gross (I) Take Away Moscow Mitch's Majority" . Daily Kos .
^ a b c d "Humanity Forward Candidate Endorsements" . Humanity Forward . Archived from the original on June 28, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2020 .
^ a b "Endorsed Candidates — 314actionfund" . 314 Action . Archived from the original on April 4, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2019 .
^ a b "Endorsed Candidates- 2019 Anchorage Municipal Elections" . Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2020 .
^ a b Quinn, Steve (October 11, 2019). "Alaska Democratic Party backs Gross for US Senate" . KTVA . Archived from the original on October 14, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019 .
^ a b "DSCC Endorses Dr. Al Gross in Alaska Senate Race" . DSCC . December 3, 2019.
^ a b Muller, Tiffany (January 21, 2020). "End Citizens United Endorses 39 Candidates 10 Years After Citizens United Decision" . End Citizens United .
^ a b "Al Gross (I, AK Sen)" . J Street PAC . Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020 .
^ a b "2020 Endorsements" . Archived from the original on July 26, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2020 .
^ a b "Al Gross For The Great Land | The Lincoln Project" . Al Gross For The Great Land | The Lincoln Project . July 29, 2020.
^ a b "AAOS Now October 2019: OrthoPAC Endorses AAOS Member Al Gross, MD, for U.S. Senate" . www.aaos.org .
^ a b "2020 Endorsements" . www.plannedparenthoodaction.org . Archived from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2020 .
^ a b "Communications Workers of America Endorses Al Gross (AK) for US Senate" . Communications Workers of America . June 11, 2020.
^ a b "Alaska" . Politics1 . Retrieved May 17, 2020 .
^ a b c "November 3, 2020 General Election Candidate List" . www.elections.alaska.gov . October 29, 2020. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020 .
^ Maguire, Sean (August 14, 2020). "Meet Alaska's candidates for the U.S. Senate ahead of the Aug. 18 primaries" . KTUU . Retrieved August 21, 2020 .
^ Downing, Suzanne (May 11, 2019). "Sen. Sullivan has his first challenger: a Bernie supporter" . Must Read Alaska . Retrieved May 15, 2020 .
^ "Identification Number: C00705293" (PDF) . FEC . May 29, 2019. Retrieved June 2, 2020 .
^ Ruskin, Liz (November 25, 2020). "Trump Administration Rejects Pebble Mine Project In Alaska" . NPR . Retrieved January 1, 2024 .
^ Laine, Welch (June 30, 2020). "Alaska salmon: Bristol Bay opens with Pebble Mine decision pending" . National Fisherman . Retrieved January 1, 2024 .
^ DeMarban, Alex (August 24, 2020). "Pebble mine would cause 'significant degradation' in Bristol Bay region and can't be permitted as proposed, Trump administration says" . Anchorage Daily News . Retrieved January 1, 2024 .
^ DeMarban, Alex (September 22, 2020). "In recordings, Pebble executives discuss influence with Gov. Mike Dunleavy and one day expanding the mine" . Anchorage Daily News . Retrieved January 1, 2024 .
^ DeMarban, Alex; Wieber, Aubrey (September 25, 2020). "Sen. Sullivan says 'No Pebble mine' following release of secretly recorded videos of company executives and criticism by Gross" . Anchorage Daily News . Retrieved January 1, 2024 .
^ Wieber, Aubrey (October 11, 2020). "Sullivan and Gross battled it out on fisheries, Pebble Mine and Outside money in debut U.S. Senate debate" . Anchorage Daily News . Retrieved January 1, 2024 .
^ "2020 Senate Race Ratings for October 29, 2020" . The Cook Political Report . Retrieved March 11, 2021 .
^ Silver, Nate (September 18, 2020). "Forecasting the race for the Senate" . FiveThirtyEight . Retrieved September 18, 2020 .
^ "Forecasting the US elections" . The Economist . November 2, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2021 .
^ "2020 Senate Race Ratings" . Daily Kos Elections . Retrieved March 13, 2021 .
^ "2020 Senate Elections Model" . Decision Desk HQ . September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020 .
^ "2020 Senate Ratings" . Senate Ratings . The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved March 11, 2021 .
^ "2020 Senate race ratings" . Sabato's Crystal Ball . Retrieved March 12, 2021 .
^ "Battle for the Senate 2020" . RCP . October 23, 2020.
^ "2020 Election Forecast" . Politico . November 19, 2019.
^ Senator Murkowski: More Than Ever
^ Sweeney, Tara (October 25, 2020). "Sullivan has been a champion for rural Alaska" . Anchorage Daily News . Retrieved October 16, 2021 .
^ "BSNC Endorses Dan Sullivan for United States Senate" . Bering Straits . August 18, 2020.
^ "PAEC Issues First Endorsements in 2020 General Election" . Calista Corporation . Archived from the original on September 21, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2020 .
^ "U.S. Chamber Endorses Dan Sullivan for U.S. Senate Representing Alaska" . U.S. Chamber of Commerce . July 20, 2020.
^ "Press Release: International Union of Operating Engineers Endorses Senator Dan Sullivan for Re-election – Dan Sullivan for Alaska" . dansullivanforalaska.com . Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2020 .
^ Anchorage Daily News editorial board (October 31, 2020). "Sen. Dan Sullivan is best poised to represent Alaska's interests" . Anchorage Daily News .
^ Buxton, Matt (August 12, 2020). "Before joining Democratic ticket, Kamala Harris endorsed Al Gross for U.S. Senate" . The Midnight Sun .
^ "Home – AL GROSS – FIGHTING TO FLIP ALASKA BLUE" . Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2021 .
^ Knowles, Tony (October 19, 2020). "Dr. Al Gross: Independent for U.S. Senator" . Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman .
^ "DUH/PEP website" . duh4all.org .
^ "Our Endorsements" . DMFI PAC .
^ "NRDC Action Fund Endorses 14 for House, Senate" . nrdcactionfund.org . September 3, 2020.
^ "PACE Recommendations" . NEA-Alaska . Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020 .
^ Gravis Marketing
^ Public Policy Polling (D)
^ Change Research (I)
^ Siena College/NYT Upshot
^ a b Harstad Strategic Research, Inc. (I)
^ Patinkin Research Strategies
^ Alaska Survey Research
^ Harstad Strategic Research, Inc. (I)
^ Public Policy Polling (D)
^ Public Policy Polling
^ Alaska Survey Research
^ a b Patinkin Research Strategies
^ "2020 General Election – Election Summary Report – Official Results" (PDF) . Alaska Division of Elections . Retrieved December 2, 2020 .
^ "Alaska Senate Election Results 2020" . National Election Pool . NBC News . March 31, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2022 .
Further reading
External links
Official campaign websites
U.S. President U.S. Senate U.S. House (election ratings ) Governors Attorneys general Secretaries of state State treasurers State legislatures
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan House
Minnesota
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Mayors
Bakersfield, CA
Baltimore, MD
Baton Rouge, LA
Clearwater, FL
Corpus Christi, TX
El Paso, TX
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fresno, CA
Honolulu, HI
Irvine, CA
Lubbock, TX
Mesa, AZ
Miami-Dade County, FL
Milwaukee, WI
Phoenix, AZ
Portland, OR
Richmond, VA
Riverside, CA
Sacramento, CA
Salt Lake County, UT
San Diego, CA
San Juan, PR
Santa Ana, CA
Stockton, CA
Tulsa, OK
Virginia Beach, VA
Wilmington, DE
Winston-Salem, NC
Local
Clearwater, FL
Cook County, IL
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles County, CA
New Castle County, DE
Orange County, CA
Portland, OR
San Diego, CA
San Diego County, CA
San Francisco, CA
Washington, DC
Statewide Related