Election 2018: How the Susitna Valley Voted

Precinct-level results are now available from Tuesday’s election. For the most part, the Susitna Valley voted along similar trends as the rest of the state.

Current figures show a significantly lower turnout in this year’s election as opposed to the last mid-terms in 2014. That year, nearly sixty percent of voters made it to the polls as opposed to slightly less than forty-five percent this year.

The two most-watched statewide races were for governor and U.S. Representative.

After Governor Bill Walker’s withdrawal from the campaign trail last month, two major candidates were left. In District 10, nearly every precinct preferred former Republican State Senator Mike Dunleavy. Former Democratic U.S. Senator Mark Begich came out ahead in Talkeetna, but in no other precinct. Statewide, Dunleavy came out ahead by around 20,000 votes.

The race for Alaska’s sole U.S. House was similar. Every precinct but Talkeetna opted for incumbent Republican Representative Don Young, with independent challenger Alyse Galvin winning only Talkeetna. Statewide, Galvin managed a slightly narrower margin than Begich.

In statewide results, the most lopsisded defeat of the night was for Proposition 1, which would have established new regulations for development occurring in areas with salmon habitat. In a familiar theme from Tuesday, Talkeetna was the only precinct that voted in favor of the measure.

Also up for grabs on Tuesday were the two seats in Alaska’s legislature that represent the Northern Susitna Valley. In both cases, Republican incumbents came out with decisive victories.

In the race for Senate Seat E, Senator Mike Shower ended Tuesday with a three-to-one margin over Democratic challenger Su Kay. Again, Talkeetna was the only precinct to go against the larger trend.

Voters had three choices for House District 10’s seat in Juneau. Incumbent David Eastman had challenges from Democrat Patricia Faye-Brazel and fellow Republican Doyle Holmes, who entered the race as a petition candidate. Eastman’s vote tallies easily eclipsed those of both challengers combined. The House race was the only one where two precincts went against the larger result. Patricia Faye-Brazel received the most votes in Talkeetna, and Doyle Holmes received the most votes in his home town of Willow.

If it were solely up to voters in the Susitna Valley, none of the judges on Tuesday’s ballot would be retained. In the case of one of those judges, Michael Corey, every precinct voted for him to not be retained on the bench. Corey was the judge who issued a controversial no-jailtime sentence for a man accused of sex crimes earlier this year.

Complete results from Tuesday’s votes are available from the Alaska Division of Elections.