The 2022 United States Senate election in Alaska was held on November 8, 2022. Incumbent Republican senator Lisa Murkowski won reelection to a fourth full term, defeating fellow Republican Kelly Tshibaka and Democrat Patricia Chesbro.Gomez, Henry J. "Sen. Lisa Murkowski wins re-election in Alaska, fending off Trump-backed challenge after a ranked-choice runoff", NBC News (November 23, 2022).

This was the first U.S. Senate election in Alaska to be held under a new election process provided for in Ballot Measure 2. All candidates ran in a nonpartisan blanket top-four primary on August 16, 2022, and the top four candidates advanced to the general election, where voters utilized ranked-choice voting.

Murkowski had been a vocal critic of Donald Trump during his presidency and opposed several of his initiatives. Murkowski was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial in 2021, and was the only one up for re-election in 2022. On March 16, 2021, the Alaska Republican Party voted to censure Murkowski and announced that it would recruit a Republican challenger in the 2022 election cycle. Kelly Tshibaka, a former commissioner of the Alaska Department of Administration, was endorsed by Trump and the Alaska Republican Party. Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell and the National Republican Senatorial Committee supported Murkowski.

In addition to Murkowski and Tshibaka, Democrat Pat Chesbro and Republican Buzz Kelley also advanced to the general election. On September 13, Kelley suspended his campaign and endorsed Tshibaka but remained on the ballot. Murkowski received a plurality of first-place votes; however, because no candidate received a majority of the votes in the first round, an instant runoff was triggered. Murkowski won reelection in the third and final round, winning most of the second-choice votes from Chesbro's voters.

Primary election

Republican Party

Advanced to general Lisa Murkowski, incumbent U.S. senator Kelly Tshibaka, former commissioner of the Alaska Department of Administration

Withdrew after advancing to general Buzz Kelley, retired mechanic (remained on ballot; endorsed Tshibaka)

Eliminated in primary Sam Merrill, businessman Pat Nolin, mechanic John Schiess, perennial candidate Kendall L. Shorkey Karl Speights, retired U.S. Air Force officer and advisor to Donald Trump's 2020 presidential campaign

Disqualified Sam Little, musician, truck driver, National Guard veteran and candidate for governor of Alaska in 2010

Declined Mike Dunleavy, governor of Alaska (ran for re-election) Bob Lochner, mechanic and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2016 Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska and nominee for vice president of the United States in 2008 (ran for U.S. House)

Democratic Party

Advanced to general Pat Chesbro, teacher

Eliminated in primary Edgar Blatchford, professor, former mayor of Seward, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2016 and 2020 Ivan R. Taylor

Withdrew Elvi Gray-Jackson, state senator for District I and former Anchorage Assembly member (ran for re-election)Democratic State Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson makes it official: She is withdrawing from the Alaska U.S. Senate race in order to run for re-election to the Alaska Legislature. James Brooks on Twitter

Libertarian Party

Eliminated in primary Sean Thorne, veteran

Alaskan Independence Party

Eliminated in primary Dustin Darden, city maintenance worker and perennial candidate Joe Stephens

Declined John Howe, machinist and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2020 (ran for governor)

Independents

Eliminated in primary Dave Darden, perennial candidate Shoshana Gungurstein, businesswoman Sid Hill, political gadfly and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2014 Jeremy Keller, television personality Huhnkie Lee, attorney, army veteran and Republican candidate for Alaska Senate in 2020

Declined Al Gross, orthopedic surgeon, commercial fisherman, son of former Alaska Attorney General Avrum Gross, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020 (ran for U.S. House)

Results

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report March 4, 2022 Inside Elections April 1, 2022 Sabato's Crystal Ball March 1, 2022PoliticoSeptember 5, 2022RCPSeptember 15, 2022Fox News May 12, 2022DDHQJuly 20, 2022FiveThirtyEightOctober 24, 2022The EconomistSeptember 7, 2022

Debates and forums

2022 United States Senate election in Alaska debates Date Host Link Participants Participant   Absent   Non-invitee   Invitee   Withdrawn   Lisa Murkowski Kelly Tshibaka Patricia Chesbro Buzz Kelley 1 September 1, 2022 Denaʼina Civic and Convention CenterAlaska Oil and Gas AssociationAnchorage Daily News 2 October 10, 2022 Anchorage Chamber of Commerce W

Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RCVcount LisaMurkowski(R) KellyTshibaka(R) PatChesbro(D) BuzzKelley(R) Undecided / Not RankedAlaska Survey ResearchOctober 19–22, 20221,276 (LV)±3.0%141%39%16%4%—242%41%17%——356%44%–—Alaska Survey ResearchAlaska Survey ResearchSeptember 25–27, 20221,282 (LV)±3.0%141%39%16%4%—242%41%17%——357%43%–—Fabrizio Ward (R)/Impact Research (D)September 6–11, 20221,050 (LV)35%43%13%1%7% 138%46%14%2%7% 238%47%14%–8% 350%50%–10%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RCVcount PatChesbro(D) DustinDarden(AIP) Elvi(D) AlGross(D/I) JohnHowe(AIP) JoeMiller(L) LisaMurkowski(R) SarahPalin(R) KellyTshibaka(R) Other UndecidedAlaska Survey ResearchJuly 2–5, 20221,201 (LV)± 2.9%117%5%–35%–43%–220%–36%45%3–52%48%Cygnal (R)March 14–16, 2022500 (LV)± 4.2%1–29%–45%26%–?49%–51%–Alaska Survey ResearchOctober 22–27, 2021969 (RV)± 3.2%1–22%–35%20%23%–223%42%–35%3–60%40%Alaska Survey ResearchJuly 11–21, 2021947 (LV)± 3.2%1–19%–18%36%–27%–221%–39%40%3–55%45%Change Research (D)May 22–25, 20211,023 (LV)± 3.1%–25%4%–19%–39%1%12%346%––54%– Lisa Murkowski vs. Kelly Tshibaka Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error LisaMurkowski (R) KellyTshibaka (R) UndecidedAlaska Survey ResearchApril 16–21, 20221,208 (LV)± 2.9%55%45%–

Results

2022 United States Senate election in Alaska Party Candidate First choice Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Votes % Transfer Votes %Transfer Votes % Transfer Votes % Republican 113,495 43.37% +623 114,118 43.39% +1,641 115,759 44.49% +20,571 136,330 53.70% Republican 111,480 42.60% +621 112,101 42.62% +3,209 115,310 44.32% +2,224 117,534 46.30% Democratic 27,145 10.37% +1,088 28,233 10.73% +901 29,134 11.20% −29,134 Eliminated Republican (withdrew) 7,557 2.89% +1,018 8,575 3.26% −8,575 Eliminated Write-in 2,028 0.77% -2,028 Eliminated Total votes261,705 263,027260,203 253,864 Blank or inactive ballots 3,770 +2,824 6,594 +6,339 12,933 Republican hold

See also 2022 United States Senate elections 2022 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska 2022 Alaska gubernatorial election 2022 Alaska Senate election 2022 Alaska House of Representatives election 2022 Alaska elections

Notes

Partisan clients

References

External links Official campaign websites Pat Chesbro (D) for Senate Buzz Kelley (R) for Senate Lisa Murkowski (R) for Senate Kelly Tshibaka (R) for Senate