Bill Walker (American politician)

Bill Walker
11th Governor of Alaska
In office December 1, 2014 – December 3, 2018
Lieutenant	Byron Mallott Valerie Davidson
Preceded by	Sean Parnell
Succeeded by	Mike Dunleavy
Mayor of Valdez
In office 1979–1980
Preceded by	Mac MacDonald
Succeeded by	Stephen McAlpine[1]
Personal details
Born	William Martin Walker (1951-04-16) April 16, 1951 (age 73) Fairbanks, Territory of Alaska, U.S.
Political party	Independent (from 2014)
Other political affiliations	Republican (until 2014)
Spouse	Donna Walker
Children	4
Education	Lewis and Clark College (BS) Seattle University (JD)
Website	Campaign website

William Martin Walker (born April 16, 1951) is an American attorney and politician who served as the 11th governor of Alaska, from 2014 to 2018. He was the second Alaska-born governor, after William A. Egan.

Walker was born in Fairbanks to Frances (Park) and businessman Ed Walker; he was raised in Delta Junction and Valdez, Alaska. He obtained a J.D. degree from Seattle University and served as mayor, city councilor, and city attorney for Valdez, and as general counsel for the Alaska Gasline Port Authority. Walker ran for governor of Alaska in the Republican Party primary election in 2010, losing to incumbent Sean Parnell.

Walker ran as an independent in the 2014 election, merging his campaign with that of Democratic nominee Byron Mallott, who became Walker's running mate. Both candidates' prior respective running mates withdrew from the race and the Walker/Mallott ticket defeated Parnell and his running mate, former Anchorage mayor Dan Sullivan. Walker ran for reelection in 2018, but facing low polling numbers and Lieutenant Governor Mallott's resignation, he dropped out of the race on October 19, 2018, and endorsed Democrat Mark Begich. Walker ran in the 2022 election as an independent, but lost to Republican incumbent Mike Dunleavy and Democratic candidate Les Gara.