The 2006 Alaska gubernatorial general election took place on November 7, 2006. Former Wasilla mayor Sarah Palin defeated incumbent governor Frank Murkowski in the Republican primary, and then went on to defeat Democratic former governor Tony Knowles and independent Andrew Halcro in the general election. Palin became the first governor of the state to be born after Alaskan statehood.
Palin would later become the unsuccessful Republican vice presidential nominee in the 2008 United States presidential election before resigning as governor in 2009.
Republican primary
Candidates
- John Binkley, Fairbanks businessman and former State Senator from Bethel
- Gerald Heikes, minister at Anchorage's nondenominational Bethel Chapel and perennial candidate
- Merica Hlatcu
- Frank Murkowski, incumbent Governor since 2003
- Sarah Palin, former mayor of Wasilla (1996–2003) and chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (2003–04)
Incumbent Frank Murkowski, first elected governor in 2002, ran for reelection but was defeated in a landslide in the Republican primary by former Wasilla mayor Sarah Palin on August 22, 2006. Murkowski's approval rating at the time of the election was 19%.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Eric Croft, State Representative from Spenard, Anchorage
- Tony Knowles, former Governor of Alaska (1994–2002)
- Bruce Lemke
Former two-term Governor Tony Knowles and state lawmaker Eric Croft competed for the Democratic ticket for governor. Knowles had a substantial lead over Croft, both at the polls and with fundraising.
General election
Candidates
- Andrew Halcro, president and CEO of Avis Alaska and former State Representative from Anchorage (Independent)
- Tony Knowles, former Governor of Alaska (1995–2003) (Democratic)
- David Massie (Green)
- Sarah Palin, former mayor of Wasilla (1996–2003) and chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (2003–04) (Republican)
- Billy Toien, candidate for governor in 2002 (Libertarian)
- Don Wright, bush pilot and perennial candidate (Alaska Independence)