2008 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska

2008 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska

← 2006 November 4, 2008 2010 →
 
Nominee Don Young Ethan Berkowitz
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 158,939 142,560
Percentage 50.1% 45.0%

Results by state house district
Young:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Berkowitz:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Representative At-large before election

Don Young
Republican

Elected Representative At-large

Don Young
Republican

The 2008 United States House of Representatives 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 was elected would serve in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009, until January 3, 2011. The election coincided with the nationwide presidential election. The primary election was held August 26, 2008.[1]

Alaska's at-large congressional district 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.[2] Final results on September 18 showed Young winning by 304 votes, and Parnell announced that he would not seek a recount.[3]

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.[4] After the primary, CQ Politics changed its forecast to 'Leans Democratic'.[5] 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%.[6][7]

  1. ^ Alaska Division of Elections
  2. ^ Sutton, Anne Young's slim lead grows a bit more in Alaska House race Anchorage Daily News, September 6, 2008
  3. ^ Anne Sutton, "No recount in GOP race for Alaska's House seat", Associated Press, September 18, 2008.[dead link]
  4. ^ AK-Sen, AK-AL: No "Palin bump" for House and Senate races kos, Daily Kos, September 18, 2008
  5. ^ "CQ Politics Forecast". Archived from the original on June 17, 2008. Retrieved July 17, 2008.
  6. ^ ap.google.com, Young retains US House seat in Alaska[dead link]
  7. ^ kfor.com, Young retains US House seat in Alaska[permanent dead link]

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