2016 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska

Not to be confused with 2016 Alaska House of Representatives election.

The 2016 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska was held on November 8, 2016, to elect the U.S. representative from Alaska's at-large congressional district, who will represent the state of Alaska in the 114th United States Congress. The election coincided with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections in the United States Senate, and various state and local elections.

2016 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska

← 2014 November 8, 2016 2018 →

Nominee Don Young Steve Lindbeck Jim McDermott Party Republican Democratic Libertarian Popular vote 155,088 111,019 31,770 Percentage 50.3% 36.0% 10.3%

State house district results Borough and census area results Young:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Lindbeck:      40–50%      50–60%

Representative at-large before election Don Young Republican Elected Representative at-large Don Young Republican

Incumbent Republican U.S. Representative Don Young was re-elected to a twenty-third term in office.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Gerald Heikes, minister at Anchorage's nondenominational Bethel Chapel and perennial candidate^[1]
• Jesse Tingley^[1]
• Stephen Wright, US Air Force veteran^[1]
• Don Young, incumbent U.S. Representative^[2]

Declined

• Mike Dunleavy, state senator^[3][4]
• Lance Pruitt, state representative^[5]
• Sean Parnell, former governor of Alaska, and candidate for US House in 2008^[3]
• Joe Miller, former magistrate judge, nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2010 and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014^[3]
• Mead Treadwell, former lieutenant governor and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014^[3]

Results

Republican primary results^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Don Young (incumbent)	38,998	71.5
	Republican	Stephen Wright	10,189	18.7
	Republican	Gerald Heikes	2,817	5.2
	Republican	Jesse Tingley	2,524	4.6
Total votes			54,528	100.0

Democratic–Libertarian–Independence primary

Candidates from the Alaska Democratic Party, Alaska Libertarian Party and Alaskan Independence Party appear on the same ballot, with the highest-placed candidate from each party receiving that party's nomination.

Democratic

Candidates

Declared

• William Hibler, former glaciologist with the University of Alaska Fairbanks^[7]
• Steve Lindbeck, former CEO of Alaska Public Media^[7]
• Lynette Moreno-Hinz, taxicab driver, candidate for lieutenant governor in 2010 and candidate for the State House in 2012^[8]

Declined

• Mark Begich, former U.S. Senator^[9][10]

Libertarian

Candidates

Declared

• Jim McDermott^[11]
• Jon Watts^[12]

Endorsements

Steve Lindbeck

Individuals

• Mark Begich, former U.S. Senator from Alaska^[7]
• Forrest Dunbar, member of the Anchorage Assembly and Democratic nominee for congress in 2014^[13]

Unions

• Alaska Public Employees Association (state union affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers and the AFL-CIO)^[14]
• Inlandboatmen's Union^[15]
• International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots^[15]

Results

Democratic–Libertarian–Independence primary results^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Steve Lindbeck	17,009	55.6
	Democratic	Lynette Hinz	5,130	16.8
	Libertarian	Jim McDermott	3,960	12.9
	Democratic	William Hibler	2,918	9.5
	Libertarian	Jon Watts	1,583	5.2
Total votes			30,543	100.0

General election

Fundraising

Candidate	Raised	Spent	Cash on hand
Don Young (R)^[16]	$759,967	$716,219	$531,968
Steve Lindbeck (D)^[17]	$470,897	$153,365	$317,533
Jim McDermott (L)^[18]	$7,879	$7,879	$0

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report^[19]	Lean R	November 2, 2016
Daily Kos^[20]	Likely R	August 17, 2016
Roll Call^[21]	Safe R	August 17, 2016
Rothenberg Political Report^[22]	Safe R	July 14, 2016
Sabato's Crystal Ball^[23]	Likely R	August 10, 2016

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Don Young (R)	Steve Lindbeck (D)	Other	Undecided
Alaska Survey Research	September 28–October 2, 2016	660	± 3.8%	45%	30%	16%^[24]	9%

Results

2016 Alaska's at-large congressional district^[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Don Young (incumbent)	155,088	50.32%	-0.65%
	Democratic	Steve Lindbeck	111,019	36.02%	-4.95%
	Libertarian	Jim McDermott	31,770	10.31%	+2.70%
	Independent	Bernie Souphanavong	9,093	2.95%	N/A
	Write-in		1,228	0.40%	-0.06%
Total votes			308,198	100.00%	N/A
	Republican hold

Boroughs and Census Areas that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Hoonah–Angoon Census Area (largest town: Hoonah)

Boroughs and Census Areas that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Yakutat Borough

References

1. Boettger, Ben (August 3, 2016). "U.S House candidates introduced at Chamber of Commerce Luncheon". Peninsula Clarion. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
2. . Alaska Pipeline. February 19, 2015. Archived from the original on April 19, 2015. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
3. Pathé, Simone (May 15, 2015). . Roll Call. Archived from the original on December 15, 2015. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
4. Manning, Phillip (January 5, 2016). "Sen. Dunleavey won't challenge Murkowski after all". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
5. Herz, Nathaniel (May 28, 2015). "Lance Pruitt says he's considering a primary challenge to Rep. Young". Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
6. "Election Summary Report. Official results" (PDF). September 6, 2016.
7. "A scientist, a Native voice, and a former public radio chief compete for Alaska's Democratic chance at the U.S. House". Peninsula Clarion. August 11, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
8. "Former Kodiak setnetter launches U.S House challenge to Alaska's Don Young". Alaska Dispatch. September 20, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
9. "Begich unveils consulting firm, will work in aviation and health care". Alaska Dispatch. January 31, 2015. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
10. Bohrer, Becky (February 16, 2016). "Former Sen. Begich says he won't run for any office this year". Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
11. "Jim McDermott (Alaska)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
12. "Jon Briggs Watts". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
13. Lindbeck, Steve (July 21, 2016). "Great to see so many supporters, including Mark Begich and Forrest Dunbar at our office opening in Anchorage today!". Facebook. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
14. . Alaska Public Employees Association. August 29, 2016. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
15. DeMarban, Alex (June 23, 2016). "Two maritime unions pull longtime support for Young, endorse challenger". Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
16. "Young, Don — Candidate for House". Federal Election Commission. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
17. "Lindbeck, Steve — Candidate for House". Federal Election Commission. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
18. "McDermott, Jim — Candidate for House". Federal Election Commission. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
19. "2016 House Race Ratings for November 2, 2016". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
20. "Election Outlook: 2016 Race Ratings". Daily Kos. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
21. . Roll Call. Archived from the original on August 20, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
22. "House Ratings". The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
23. "2016 House". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
24. Jim McDermott (L) 7%, Bernie Souphanavong (I) 9%
25. "2016 General Election November 8, 2016 Official Results". elections.alaska.gov. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2016.

External links

• Division of Elections at Alaska Government
• Alaska U.S. House at OurCampaigns.com
• United States House of Representatives elections in Alaska, 2016 at Ballotpedia
• Outside spending at the Sunlight Foundation

Official campaign websites

• Steve Lindbeck for Congress (D)
• Don Young for Congress (R)