Homer Alaska - News

In a dramatic primary election that could see another senior Alaska senator lose a U.S. Senate seat, Homer voters on Tuesday echoed statewide results across the slate.

Like others voting the Republican Party ballot, District 35 went for Fairbanks lawyer Joe Miller over incumbent Lisa Murkowski in the nomination for U.S. Senate, with 53 percent voting for Miller to 46 percent for Murkowski. Statewide, Miller — favored by former Gov. Sarah Palin and the Tea Party movement — had a three-point lead, with 51 percent to 49 percent.

"I don't think Lisa counted on the formidable foe that Miller was," said Eileen Becker, a longtime Homer Republican Party leader. "If she does win, it's a wake up call. She needs to look at her values."

Rep. Paul Seaton, R-Alaska, said the results surprised him.

"I understand it had been tightening up in the last week or so," he said.

District 35 includes the lower Kenai Peninsula from Anchor Point, Cooper Landing, Moose Pass, Bear Creek and Seward.

If she loses, Murkowski could be the second incumbent Alaska senator to fall in two years after Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, narrowly beat the late Sen. Ted Stevens in the 2008 election.

Murkowski said she's not calling the election until 16,000 absentee ballots are counted. Murkowski noted Stevens was ahead two points at first and later lost.

"We're continuing on throughout this process and remain optimistic," she said Wednesday.

The last time an incumbent Alaska U.S. senator lost in a primary was in 1980, when Clark Gruening defeated Sen. Mike Gravel in the Democratic Party primary. Gruening then lost to Murkowski's father, Frank Murkowski, in the general election.

Sitka Mayor Scott McAdams easily won the Democratic Party nomination for U.S. Senate, winning with 49 percent statewide and 42 percent in District 35. Homer candidate Frank Vondersaar did better locally than statewide, winning 27 percent of the vote to 15 percent statewide.

In party nominations for governor, Homer numbers also were similar to statewide. In the Republican Party ticket, Gov. Sean Parnell soundly beat Bill Walker, who'd mounted an aggressive campaign, winning with 49 percent statewide and 52 percent in District 35. Mead Treadwell won the lieutenant governor slot with 53 percent statewide and 61 percent locally.

Becker, who campaigned for Treadwell, said he would complement Parnell. She also was pleased with Parnell's victory.

"I'm glad Sean won on his own name," Becker said. "That kind of gives you a little bit more strength and credibility."

Ethan Berkowitz had a similar win over Hollis French for the Democratic Party nomination for governor, winning 49 percent to 39 percent for French statewide and 46 percent to 42 percent in District 35. Diane Benson handily won the lieutenant governor nomination with 65 percent statewide and 73 percent locally.

In the two ballot propositions, Proposition 1, which would ban the use of public funds for political campaigns, failed by 62 percent voting no statewide and 61 percent locally. Proposition 2, which would require parental notification for minors seeking abortions, passed with 56 percent statewide and 53 percent locally.

Rep. Don Young easily won the Republican Party's nomination with 70 percent statewide and 69 percent locally. He'll face Democratic Party challenger Harry Crawford, who ran unopposed. Also running unopposed were Republican Party candidates Rep. Paul Seaton, R-Homer, and Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak. They also face no opposition in the general election.

Voter turnout was light, with 3,665 out of 13,475 registered voters, or 27 percent, of District 35 voters casting ballots. Voter rolls tend to be inflated because voters who have moved may not have been purged.

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong@homernews.com.

View a chart with local voter break downs