United States House of Representatives election in Alaska, 2008
Encyclopedia
The 2008 congressional election in Alaska was held on November 4, 2008 to determine who will represent the state
of Alaska
in the United States House of Representatives
. Alaska has one seat in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; whoever is elected will serve in the 111th Congress
from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincides with the 2008 U.S. presidential election
. The primary election was held August 26, 2008.
covers the entire state, and has been represented by Republican Don Young
since 1973. He was challenged by Democratic nominee Ethan Berkowitz
and Alaskan Independence candidate Don Wright
.
Berkowitz won the Democratic primary against Diane E. Benson
and Jake Metcalfe. The Republican primary was so close that Young and Sean Parnell
needed to wait for the overseas absentee ballots, which had until September 10, 2008 to arrive and be counted. Young held a narrow lead of 239 votes after counting the other absentee and questioned ballots on September 6, 2008. Final results on September 18 showed Young winning by 304 votes, and Parnell announced that he would not seek a recount.
According to the 9/15-17 Research 2000
poll for Daily Kos
, Berkowitz led Young in the General election by a 53%-39% margin, with a ±4% margin of error. After the Primary, CQ Politics changed its forecast to 'Leans Democratic'. The Cook Political Report ranked it 'Republican Toss Up' and The Rothenberg Political Report rated it 'Democrat Favored'.
On November 12, 2008, Young was declared the winner, retaining the seat for his 19th term, despite a strong challenge from Berkowitz. Young was proclaimed winner, getting 50% of the vote compared to Berkowitz's 45%.
, the Alaskan Independence Party
, and Libertarian Party of Alaska
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. Alaska has one seat in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; whoever is elected will serve in the 111th Congress
111th United States Congress
The One Hundred Eleventh United States Congress was the meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government from January 3, 2009 until January 3, 2011. It began during the last two weeks of the George W. Bush administration, with the remainder spanning the first two years of...
from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincides with the 2008 U.S. presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
. The primary election was held August 26, 2008.
Background
Alaska's At-large congressional districtAlaska's At-large congressional district
Alaska's At-large congressional district comprises the entire state of Alaska. This congressional district has the largest land area and lowest population density of any district in the United States...
covers the entire state, and has been represented by Republican Don Young
Don Young
Donald Edwin "Don" Young is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1973. He is a member of the Republican Party.Young is the 6th most senior U.S. Representative and the 2nd most senior Republican Representative, as well as the 2nd most senior Republican in Congress as a whole...
since 1973. He was challenged by Democratic nominee Ethan Berkowitz
Ethan Berkowitz
Ethan A. Berkowitz is an American politician who was the Alaska State Representative for District 26 from 1997 through 2006, serving as Democratic Party Minority Leader from 1999 to 2006.-Early life and education:...
and Alaskan Independence candidate Don Wright
Don Wright (politician)
Donald Rose "Don" Wright is an American politician and former president of the Alaska Federation of Natives, serving from 1970 to 1972 during the height of activity over passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Most of his notoriety in Alaskan politics has come as a perennial candidate...
.
Berkowitz won the Democratic primary against Diane E. Benson
Diane E. Benson
Diane E. Benson is an Alaskan politician, inspirational speaker, video production consultant, published writer and dramatist. In August 2010, she became the Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor for the state of Alaska, easily outpacing three other opponents in the Democratic primary on August...
and Jake Metcalfe. The Republican primary was so close that Young and Sean Parnell
Sean Parnell
Sean R. Parnell is an American Republican politician who is the tenth and current Governor of Alaska. He succeeded Sarah Palin following her resignation, and was sworn in at the Governor's Picnic in Fairbanks on July 26, 2009...
needed to wait for the overseas absentee ballots, which had until September 10, 2008 to arrive and be counted. Young held a narrow lead of 239 votes after counting the other absentee and questioned ballots on September 6, 2008. Final results on September 18 showed Young winning by 304 votes, and Parnell announced that he would not seek a recount.
According to the 9/15-17 Research 2000
Research 2000
Research 2000 is a U.S. opinion polling and marketing research company based in Olney, Maryland. It began doing research on upcoming elections in 1999 after its President, Del Ali, moved on from Mason-Dixon Political Media Research...
poll for Daily Kos
Daily Kos
Daily Kos is an American political blog that publishes news and opinions from a progressive point of view. It functions as a discussion forum and group blog for a variety of netroots activists, whose efforts are primarily directed toward influencing and strengthening the Democratic Party...
, Berkowitz led Young in the General election by a 53%-39% margin, with a ±4% margin of error. After the Primary, CQ Politics changed its forecast to 'Leans Democratic'. The Cook Political Report ranked it 'Republican Toss Up' and The Rothenberg Political Report rated it 'Democrat Favored'.
On November 12, 2008, Young was declared the winner, retaining the seat for his 19th term, despite a strong challenge from Berkowitz. Young was proclaimed winner, getting 50% of the vote compared to Berkowitz's 45%.
Democratic
- Ethan BerkowitzEthan BerkowitzEthan A. Berkowitz is an American politician who was the Alaska State Representative for District 26 from 1997 through 2006, serving as Democratic Party Minority Leader from 1999 to 2006.-Early life and education:...
, nominee — Former Minority Leader, Alaska House of RepresentativesAlaska House of RepresentativesThe Alaska House of Representatives is the lower house in the Alaska Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. The House is composed of 40 members, each of whom represents a district of about 15,673 people . Members serve two-year terms without term limits... - Diane E. BensonDiane E. BensonDiane E. Benson is an Alaskan politician, inspirational speaker, video production consultant, published writer and dramatist. In August 2010, she became the Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor for the state of Alaska, easily outpacing three other opponents in the Democratic primary on August...
— 2006 nominee, 2002 Green PartyGreen Party (United States)The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
nominee for Governor - Jake Metcalfe — Former chair of the Alaska Democratic PartyAlaska Democratic Party-Introduction:The Alaska Democratic Party is the primary Democratic Party political organization in the state of Alaska, headquartered in Anchorage....
. He suspended his campaign amid allegations that his political adviser, Bill Scannell, had purchased domain nameDomain nameA domain name is an identification string that defines a realm of administrative autonomy, authority, or control in the Internet. Domain names are formed by the rules and procedures of the Domain Name System ....
s — containing Berkowitz's name — that re-directed users to a mock blogBlogA blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
, and a San Francisco LGBTLGBTLGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
Web site.
Republican
- Don YoungDon YoungDonald Edwin "Don" Young is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1973. He is a member of the Republican Party.Young is the 6th most senior U.S. Representative and the 2nd most senior Republican Representative, as well as the 2nd most senior Republican in Congress as a whole...
, nominee — Incumbent Congressman - Gabrielle LeDouxGabrielle LeDouxGabrielle LeDoux is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party of Alaska. She lives in Anchorage, Alaska and was born March 24, 1948. LeDoux is a maritime attorney and businesswoman with offices in Anchorage and Kodiak, Alaska....
— State Representative - Sean ParnellSean ParnellSean R. Parnell is an American Republican politician who is the tenth and current Governor of Alaska. He succeeded Sarah Palin following her resignation, and was sworn in at the Governor's Picnic in Fairbanks on July 26, 2009...
— Lieutenant Governor of Alaska
Polling
| Source | Date | Berkowitz (D) | Young (R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research 2000 | May 12-14, 2008 | 50% | 40% |
| Research 2000 | Dec 3-6, 2007 | 49% | 42% |
ADL primary
The "ADL" ballot contained all of the primary candidates for the Alaska Democratic PartyAlaska Democratic Party
-Introduction:The Alaska Democratic Party is the primary Democratic Party political organization in the state of Alaska, headquartered in Anchorage....
, the Alaskan Independence Party
Alaskan Independence Party
The Alaskan Independence Party is a political party in the U.S. state of Alaska that advocates an in-state referendum which includes the option of Alaska becoming an independent country...
, and Libertarian Party of Alaska
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
.
Republican primary
| Alaska Republican House of Representatives primary, 2008 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage |
| Don Young Don Young Donald Edwin "Don" Young is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1973. He is a member of the Republican Party.Young is the 6th most senior U.S. Representative and the 2nd most senior Republican Representative, as well as the 2nd most senior Republican in Congress as a whole... (incumbent Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... ) |
48,195 | 45.47% |
| Sean Parnell Sean Parnell Sean R. Parnell is an American Republican politician who is the tenth and current Governor of Alaska. He succeeded Sarah Palin following her resignation, and was sworn in at the Governor's Picnic in Fairbanks on July 26, 2009... |
47,891 | 45.19% |
| Gabrielle LeDoux | 9,901 | 9.34% |
| Totals | 105,987 | 100.00% |
General election
External links
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- U.S. Congress candidates for Alaska at Project Vote SmartProject Vote SmartProject Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States...
- Alaska U.S. House Races from 2008 Race Tracker
- Campaign contributions for Alaska congressional races from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
- Young (R-i) vs Berkowitz (D) graph of collected poll results from Pollster.com
- 2008 Election from The Anchorage Daily NewsAnchorage Daily NewsThe Anchorage Daily News is a daily newspaper based in Anchorage, Alaska, in the United States. It is often referred to colloquially as either "the Daily News" or "the ADN"...
newspaper - Official campaign websites
- Don Young for Congress, Republican Incumbent
- Sean Parnell for Congress. Republican
- Gabrielle LeDoux for Congress, Republican
- Diane Benson for Congress, Democratic
- Ethan Berkowitz for Congress, Democratic
- Jake Metcalfe for Congress, Democratic