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2020 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska

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2020 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska's at-large district

← 2018 November 3, 2020 2022 (special) →
 
Nominee Don Young Alyse Galvin[a]
Party Republican Independent
Alliance Democratic
Popular vote 192,126 159,856
Percentage 54.4% 45.3%

Young:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Galvin:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      >80%
Tie:      50%
     No votes

U.S. Representative before election

Don Young
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Don Young
Republican

The 2020 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the U.S. representative from Alaska's at-large congressional district. The election coincided with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections.

This was Don Young's last reelection as he died in office on March 18, 2022. To date, this is the last time a Republican won Alaska's only congressional U.S. House seat. It was the last Alaska congressional election conducted by plurality voting.

Background

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The incumbent in this election was Republican Don Young, who was re-elected with 53.1% of the vote in 2018, in what was one of the closest elections of his long career.[1] Young was the longest-tenured member of the U.S. House of Representatives, having been first elected in a 1973 special election.[2] He served on several committees including as a ranking member of a House Natural Resources subcommittee.[3] In 2019, Young introduced 37 bills, four of which made it out of committee.[3]

Challenging Young was independent candidate Alyse Galvin.[4] Galvin is a small business owner, former teacher, and founder of the non-profit Great Alaska Schools.[2] Galvin has never held public office. Galvin's platform focused on addressing climate change, increasing funding for public schools, and lowering health care costs.[2] Galvin ran as an independent and also received the Democratic Party nomination.

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Declared

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  • Gerald L. Heikes[5]
  • Thomas "John" Nelson, businessman and candidate for this seat in 2018[6]
  • Don Young, incumbent U.S. representative[7]

Results

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Republican primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Don Young (incumbent) 51,972 76.13%
Republican Thomas "John" Nelson 12,344 18.08%
Republican Geral Heikes 3,954 5.79%
Total votes 68,270 100.0%

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Declared

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Endorsements

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Results

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Democratic–Libertarian–Independence primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Alyse Galvin 53,258 85.83%
Democratic Ray Tugatuk 4,858 7.83%
Democratic Bill Hibler 3,931 6.34%
Total votes 62,047 100.0%

Independents

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Withdrawn

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General election

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Predictions

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Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[15] Lean R November 2, 2020
Inside Elections[16] Likely R October 28, 2020
Sabato's Crystal Ball[17] Lean R November 2, 2020
Politico[18] Lean R November 2, 2020
Daily Kos[19] Lean R November 2, 2020
RCP[20] Likely R November 2, 2020

Polling

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Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[b]
Margin
of error
Don
Young (R)
Alyse
Galvin (I)
Other Undecided
Gravis Marketing[21] October 26–28, 2020 770 (LV) ± 3.5% 49% 44% 7%
Siena College/NYT Upshot[22] October 9–14, 2020 423 (LV) ± 5.7% 49% 41% 2%[c] 9%[d]
Alaska Survey Research[23] September 25 – October 4, 2020 696 (LV) 46% 48% 6%
Public Policy Polling (D)[24] July 7–8, 2020 1,081 (V) ±  3.0% 41% 43% 16%
Data for Progress (D)[25][A] May 21–27, 2020 589 (LV) ±  4.0% 42% 43% 15%

Results

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2020 Alaska's at-large congressional district election[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Don Young (incumbent) 192,126 54.40% +1.32%
Independent Alyse Galvin[a] 159,856 45.26% –1.24%
Write-in 1,183 0.34% –0.08%
Total votes 353,165 100.0%
Republican hold

Boroughs and census areas that flipped from Republican to Democratic

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Boroughs and census areas that flipped from Democratic to Republican

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b Galvin ran as an independent with the nomination of the Democratic Party.
  2. ^ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  3. ^ "Someone else" and would not vote with 1%
  4. ^ Includes "Refused"

Partisan clients

  1. ^ Data for Progress supports Democratic candidates, and Galvin is seeking the Democratic nomination as an independent in AK-at-large.

References

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  1. ^ Wasserman, David; Flinn, Ally (November 7, 2018). "2018 House Popular Vote Tracker". Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Panetta, Madison Hall, Grace. "Alyse Galvin takes on Don Young in Alaska's At-Large Congressional District". Business Insider. Retrieved October 15, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b Wieber, Aubrey (October 10, 2020). "After 47 years in Congress, Don Young has lost his clout, says Alyse Galvin. Is that true?". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Segall, Peter (July 16, 2019). "Alyse Galvin announces bid for Congress". Juneau Empire. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c "Alaska Division of Elections". www.elections.alaska.gov. June 5, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  6. ^ "John Nelson for Alaskans".
  7. ^ Downing, Suzanne (January 26, 2019). "Don Young is 'in' for 2020". Must Read Alaska. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Alaska Secretary of State's office: Election Summary Report" (PDF).
  9. ^ "2019 Endorsed Anchorage Municipal Candidates". The Alaska Center. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  10. ^ Muller, Tiffany (January 21, 2020). "End Citizens United Endorses 39 Candidates 10 Years After Citizens United Decision". End Citizens United.
  11. ^ "2020 House Endorsees". JStreetPAC. Archived from the original on July 9, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  12. ^ "Recommended Candidates". Education Votes. Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  13. ^ "Endorsed Candidates". National Women's Political Caucus. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  14. ^ "November 3, 2020 General Election Candidate List". www.elections.alaska.gov. June 1, 2020. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  15. ^ "2020 House Race Ratings for November 2, 2020". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  16. ^ "2020 House Ratings". House Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  17. ^ "2020 House race ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  18. ^ "2020 Election Forecast". Politico. April 5, 2021.
  19. ^ "2020 House Race Ratings". Daily Kos Elections. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  20. ^ "Battle for House 2020". RCP. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  21. ^ Gravis Marketing
  22. ^ Siena College/NYT Upshot
  23. ^ Alaska Survey Research
  24. ^ Public Policy Polling (D)
  25. ^ Data for Progress (D)
  26. ^ "2020 GENERAL ELECTION Election Summary Report - Official Results" (PDF). Alaska Division of Elections. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
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Official campaign websites