The 2020 Alaska Senate elections took place as part of the biennial2020 United States elections. Voters in Alaska elected state senators in 11 of the state's 20 senate districts – the usual ten plus one special election. State senators serve four-year terms in the Alaska Senate, with half seats up for election every two years. Primary elections on August 18, 2020, determined which candidates appeared on the general election ballot on November 3, 2020.
Following the previous election in 2018, Republicans had control of the Alaska Senate with 13 seats to Democrats' 7 seats. One Democrat caucused with the Republicans, giving them a governing majority of 14 seats.
John Coghill, the incumbent since 2009, was facing opposition in the Republican primary from Robert Myers Jr., who announced his candidacy for the seat on July 10.[2] Trailing by 14 votes in the official count, incumbent Coghill asked for a recount,[3] but, when the lead remained the same after the recount, Coghill conceded defeat and Myers was declared the winner.[4]
Republican primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Robert Myers Jr.
1,739
50.2
Republican
John Coghill (incumbent)
1,725
49.8
Total votes
3,462
100.0
General election
General election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Robert Myers Jr.
10,187
57.1
Independent
Marna Sanford
6,610
37.0
Independent
Evan Eads (unofficially withdrew)
986
5.5
Write-in
Write-ins
67
0.4
Total votes
17,867
100.0
Republicanhold
D District[]
David S. Wilson, the incumbent since 2017, was facing opposition in the Republican primary from five other candidates.[5] Thomas Lamb, who filed as a nonpartisan on the Democratic primary ticket, qualified automatically for the general election.[6]
Republican Shelley Hughes, the incumbent since 2017, and Independent Stephany Jeffers were the only two candidates to file for this seat. They both advanced unopposed to the general election.[7] Jeffers withdrew her candidacy on August 31 and was replaced by fellow Independent Jim Cooper.[8]
Democrat Bill Wielechowski, the incumbent since 2007, and Republican Madeline Gaiser were the only two candidates to file for this seat. They both advanced unopposed to the general election.[9]
General election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Bill Wielechowski (incumbent)
7,297
57.8
Republican
Madeline Gaiser
5,318
42.1
Write-in
Write-ins
19
0.1
Total votes
12,634
100.0
Democratichold
J District[]
Democrat Tom Begich, the incumbent since 2017, was the only candidate to file for this seat. He ran unopposed in the general election.[9]
Natasha von Imhof, the incumbent since 2016, was facing opposition in the Republican primary from challenger Stephen Duplantis.[10] Roselynn Cacy, the only Democrat to file, qualified automatically for the general election.[9] Independent candidate Jeff Landfield withdrew his candidacy on August 31.[11] Republican primary loser Stephen Duplantis announced intentions to register as a write-in candidate.[8]
Republican primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Natasha von Imhof (incumbent)
2,162
53.5
Republican
Stephen Duplantis
1,882
46.5
Total votes
4,044
100.0
General election
General election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Natasha von Imhof (incumbent)
10,203
59.7
Democratic
Roselynn Cacy
6,706
39.3
Write-in
Write-ins
169
1.0
Total votes
17,078
100.0
Republicanhold
M District (special)[]
After the death of Sen. Chris Birch in August 2019,[12] Governor Mike Dunleavy appointed state representative Josh Revak to the Senate the following month. Revak was running as the incumbent and was seeking his first full term. He was challenged by two candidates in the Republican primary.[13] In addition, two candidates were contesting the Democratic primary.
Democratic nominee Anita Thorne withdrew her candidacy on August 31.[8]
Republican primary
Republican primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Josh Revak (incumbent)
2,499
66.2
Republican
Ray Metcalfe
911
24.2
Republican
Harold Borbridge
362
9.6
Total votes
3,772
100.0
Democratic primary
Democratic primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Anita Thorne
2,732
87.5
Democratic
Nicholas Willie
389
12.5
Total votes
3,121
100.0
General election
General election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Josh Revak (incumbent)
10,390
57.6
Independent
Andy Holleman
7,596
42.1
Write-in
Write-ins
55
0.3
Total votes
18,041
100.0
Republicanhold
N District[]
Cathy Giessel, the incumbent since 2011 and the President of the Senate since January 2019, was facing opposition in the Republican primary from DOT&PF measurement scientist Roger Holland.[14] Additionally, two candidates were contesting the Democratic primary.[15]
Republican primary
Republican primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Roger Holland
3,686
64.2
Republican
Cathy Giessel (incumbent)
2,055
35.8
Total votes
5,741
100.0
Democratic primary
Democratic primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Carl Johnson
2,247
54.1
Democratic
Lynette Moreno Hinz
1,907
45.9
Total votes
4,154
100.0
General election
General election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Roger Holland
10,501
49.7
Democratic
Carl Johnson
9,648
45.6
Independent
Carolyn "Care" Clift
959
4.5
Write-in
Write-ins
40
0.2
Total votes
21,148
100.0
Republicanhold
P District[]
Gary Stevens, the incumbent since 2003, was facing opposition in the Republican primary from former state house candidate John Cox.[16] Challenger Greg Madden contested the general election on the Alaskan Independence Party ticket.[17]
Republican primary
Republican primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Gary Stevens (incumbent)
2,086
52.9
Republican
John "Bear" Cox
1,854
47.1
Total votes
3,940
100.0
General election
General election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Gary Stevens (incumbent)
12,507
64.7
Independence
Greg Madden
6,753
34.9
Write-in
Write-ins
75
0.4
Total votes
19,335
100.0
Republicanhold
R District[]
Republican primary
Bert Stedman, the incumbent since 2003, was facing opposition in the Republican primary from handyman Michael Sheldon.[2]
Republican primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Bert Stedman (incumbent)
1,926
63.8
Republican
Michael Sheldon
1,092
36.2
Total votes
3,018
100.0
General election
General election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Bert Stedman (incumbent)
14,578
93.7
Write-in
Write-ins
985
6.3
Total votes
15,563
100.0
Republicanhold
T District[]
Donny Olson, the incumbent since 2001, was running unopposed in the Democratic primary. Two Republican candidates, Kotzebue vice-mayor Thomas Baker and Deering tribal president Calvin Moto II, have filed to challenge him for the seat.[18]
Republican primary
Republican primary
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Thomas Baker
674
60.7
Republican
Calvin Moto II
437
39.3
Total votes
1,111
100.0
General election
General election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Donny Olson (incumbent)
6,561
65.1
Republican
Thomas Baker
3,432
34.0
Write-in
Write-ins
91
0.9
Total votes
10,084
100.0
Democratichold
See also[]
Alaska Senate
2020 Alaska House of Representatives election
2020 Alaska elections
2020 United States elections
Notes[]
^ abHoffman, who was not up for reelection in 2020, is a Democrat who caucused with the Republican majority.