After a grueling election season, the U.S. has a new president: Donald Trump. Based on the unofficial state election results, the majority of Alaskans supported Trump. Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump received 52 percent of the vote in Alaska, while Democrat Hillary Clinton received 37 percent.
In the U.S. Senate race, incumbent Republican Lisa Murkowski received 44 percent of the vote. Libertarian Joe Miller took 30 percent, followed by Margaret Stock with 14 percent and Ray Metcalfe with 11 percent.
In the race for U.S. Representative, incumbent Republican Don Young received 50 percent of the vote, followed by Democrat Steve Lindbeck with 36 percent and Libertarian Jim McDermott with 10 percent.
In Senate District P, Gary Stevens received nearly 97 percent of the vote. District P includes Homer, Anchor Point, Ninilchik, Kasilof, Seldovia, Yakutat, Tyonek, Kodiak and Cordova.
Paul Seaton received 96 percent of the vote in the race for the House District 31. District 31 includes Homer, Anchor Point, Nikolaevsk and Ninilchik. Both Stevens and Seaton ran unopposed this year.
In House District 30, which includes Kenai and Soldotna, Republican Gary Knopp received 66 percent of the vote while Democratic challenger Shauna Thornton received 22 percent. Knopp, who is less than one year into a three-year term on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly, will now have to resign from the Assembly.
It was a close race in District 32, which includes Seldovia, Cordova and Kodiak. With all precincts reporting, only 98 votes separate the two leaders. Incumbent Republican Louise Stutes has received 43 percent of the vote, followed by Duncan Fields with 41 percent and Democrat Brent Watkins with 15 percent. Officials will now count the 555 “absentee-in-person” ballots, along with other absentee and questioned ballots to determine the winner of House District 32.
Alaskans now have another way to register to vote. Voters approved Ballot Measure 1, which will allow the Division of Elections to automatically register Alaskans to vote when they apply for the permanent fund dividend. The measure passed with over 63 percent of the vote.
Voters rejected Ballot Measure 2, saying no to state-issued bonds for postsecondary student loans. The goal of the measure was to lower student loan interest rates. Over 56 percent of Alaskans voted no on Ballot Measure 2.
Alaskans also voted to retain all 33 judges on the ballot. Under Alaska State Law, all judges are appointed by the governor and must appear on the ballot to remain in the position.