Alaska Gov. Bill Walker (I) announced Friday he is Dropping his Bid for Re-Election and endorsing Democrat Mark Begich against Republican Mike Dunleavy.
Walker, Elected as an Independent, made the announcement Friday afternoon at the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention, Three days after former Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott also stepped down from both his Office and the Re-Election Campaign over unspecified "inappropriate comments" he made to a woman.
"Every decision I have made as your governor, I have made on the basis of what I believe is best for Alaska," Walker told the Crowd. "With that said, effective today, I am suspending my campaign for re-election as governor." There were Gasps from the Audience. Walker said that with only 18 days until the Election, he had been talking to "many, many, many Alaskans" about which Candidate had a better chance of prevailing against Dunleavy.
Walker, a Republican-turned-Independent, was Elected in 2014 on a so-called Unity Ticket with Mallott, a Democrat, and Defeated Incumbent Republican Sean Parnell.
Walker entered Office facing Low Oil Prices and Multi-Million Dollar Budget Shortfalls. Some Voters never forgave him for pushing for an Income Tax, Alaska has No State Tax, and pushing a Spending Plan that led to Smaller Annual Permanent Fund Dividend (APFC) Checks to All Citizens from Oil Sales.
The Alaska Permanent Fund is a Constitutionally established Permanent Fund Managed by a State-owned Corporation, the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation. It was established in Alaska in 1976 by Article 9, Section 15 of the Alaska State Constitution under Governor Jay Hammond. From February 1976 until April 1980, the Department of Revenue Treasury Division Managed the State's Permanent Fund Assets, until, in 1980, the Alaska State Legislature created the APFC.
The General Election Early Voting has Started. The Walker-Mallott Ticket will Remain on the Ballot because the Nov. 6th Election have already been Printed. The Alaska Division of Elections has already sent out more than 22,000 Ballots, and Alaskans have Voted and Returned nearly 1,200 of them, according to the Division.
Samantha Miller, Division Spokeswoman, said she did not yet have information Friday about how Walker Dropping his Bid for Re-Election will Impact the Election, including what it means for Alaskans who may have already sent in their Absentee Ballots and Voted for Walker. "We're still processing through everything and we'll have more information available on Monday," she said.
In his Speech, Walker talked up Begich as being the Better in Sync with him than Dunleavy. "On balance, it is my belief that despite my many differences with Mark Begich, his stance on important issues that I have listed are more closely aligned with my priorities for Alaska," Walker said, citing his Support of Medicaid Expansion, pursuit of an Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Project, State Spending on Rural Alaska, and Education.
"It is the honor of my life to have served as the governor of this great state," he said.
After his Announcement, Walker stepped off the Stage and embraced several People in the Audience, along with Family Members. He was Invited back on Stage where he was Praised by a series of Speakers. "I've never seen such a selfless, courageous action by a sitting politician," Will Mayo, Alaska Federation of Natives Board Co-Chair, said to the Crowd. "This is a historical moment folks."
Walker and Begich talked this week about the Pros and Cons of a Three-Way Race versus a Two-Way Race, Walker said. When asked if Begich promised him anything, Walker said No. "No, there was no deal or such, anything like that," Walker said. He also said there have been "no discussions" of him having a place in a Begich Administration.
Walker hadn't been considering Withdrawing from the Race for very long, he said. "Really no decision was made, really, quite honestly until last night," he said. "I look at polls, I look at a lot of things. Some of the things we have to overcome – it was, I think it was a lot of things," he said.
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