Ballot Measures, August 19, 2014
Alaska voters decided 1 statewide ballot measure on August 19, 2014.
Ballot measures
| Measure | Description | Result |
|---|
| Ballot Measure 1 | Repeals bill that grants tax breaks to oil companies | Failed (47.3% yes) |
General Election, November 4, 2014
Alaska held its general election on November 4, 2014, deciding 54 legislative seats and 2 statewide offices led by the governorship. No chamber changed party control.
Highlights
- Independent Bill Walker (I) unseated Gov. Sean Parnell (R), ending the Republican trifecta even as Republicans kept both legislative chambers.
- Walker won by about 6,200 votes, or about 2 points. His path ran through a merged ticket formed in September: he dropped his Republican affiliation, and Byron I. Mallott (I), the Democratic nominee for governor, joined him as his running mate. The two joined forces at the urging of labor and others. Parnell, meanwhile, drew sharp criticism over his administration's handling of sexual assault and misconduct allegations in the Alaska National Guard. The race stayed too close to call until absentee and questioned ballots were counted the following week.
- In the House, Republicans slipped from 26-14 to 23-16-1. Adam Wool (D) unseated Rep. Pete B. Higgins (R) in House District 5; Matt Claman (D) won the open House District 21, left by Democrat-turned-Republican Lindsey Holmes, by 90 votes; and independent Daniel Ortiz (I) won House District 36 by about 100 votes. Republicans gained a Senate seat, reaching 14-6, when Rep. Mia Costello (R) beat Clare Ross (D) for the Anchorage seat Sen. Hollis French (D) vacated to run for lieutenant governor.
- Voters approved all 3 initiatives on the November ballot:
Legislature
- House (40 seats): 13 D, 26 R, 1 other or vacant before the election, 16 D, 23 R, 1 other or vacant after; control stayed with Republicans.
- Senate (20 seats): 7 D, 13 R before the election, 6 D, 14 R after; control stayed with Republicans.
Statewide races
Legislative races
Ballot measures
| Measure | Description | Result |
|---|
| Ballot Measure 2 | Decriminalizes marijuana in the state | Passed (53.23% yes) |
| Ballot Measure 3 | Increases the minimum wage in 2015 and 2016 | Passed (69.35% yes) |
| Ballot Measure 4 | Prohibits mining projects if harmful to wild salmon in fisheries reserve | Passed (65.94% yes) |