Alaska Politics and Photos of Sarah Palin

Current political figures for the State of Alaska

Sarah Palin proudly holds catch of the day!

Sarah Palin (R) - Former Governor Sarah Palin made history on Dec. 4, 2006, when she took office. As the 11th governor of Alaska, she is the first woman to hold the office.

Since taking office, Sarah Palin's top priorities have been resource development, education and workforce development, public health and safety, and transportation and infrastructure development.

Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska

Governor: Sean Parnell - Governor Sean Parnell arrived in Alaska in 1973 at the age of 10. He inherited his love of our vast state from his father, Pat Parnell, who decided to move his wife and two sons to Alaska after being stationed at Fort Richardson. Sean graduated from East Anchorage High School in 1980, going on to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Pacific Lutheran University, as well as a doctorate of jurisprudence from University of Puget Sound School of Law (now known as Seattle University School of Law). He has been an attorney since 1987 and is admitted to practice in Alaska and Washington, D.C. Like his father before him, Sean owned his own business for many years, a small law practice located in downtown Anchorage.

U.S. Senator, Democrat: Mark Begich - Senator Mark Begich was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2008 after serving as the Mayor of Anchorage since April 2003. Born and raised in Anchorage, Senator Begich's priorities include focusing on a national energy policy that includes Alaska's oil and gas resources, an Alaska natural gas pipeline and the many renewable resources in Alaska. He is equally committed to improving the service and benefits for our nation's veterans who have served our country so honorably.

U.S. Senator, Republican: Lisa Murkowski - Senator Lisa Murkowski is the first Alaskan born Senator to serve the State and only the sixth United States Senator from Alaska. Murkowski is a third generation Alaskan, born in Ketchikan and raised in towns across the state: Wrangell, Juneau, Fairbanks and Anchorage. Since joining the Senate in 2002, Senator Murkowski has already made many strides on issues facing Alaskans. As she advocates for legislation on the Senate floor, her passion for improving the state of health care, education, energy, Veteran's affairs, and infrastructure development in Alaska is unquestionable.

Only the 33rd female to serve in the United States Senate since its founding in 1789, Senator Murkowski has assumed leadership roles quickly in the Senate, being selected to serve as a Deputy Whip, to assist the Majority Whip on voting strategy and other leadership functions, and as Chairman of the class of new Senators elected in 2002.

U.S. Congress, Republican: Don Young - Congressman Don Young was re-elected to the 110th Congress in 2006 to serve his 18th term as Alaska's only Representative to the United States House of Representatives. First sworn in as a freshman to the 93rd Congress after winning a special election on March 6, 1973, Congressman Young is today the 3rd ranking Republican member and the 7th ranking overall member of the House of Representatives.

Congressman Young served as Chairman of the House Resources Committee from 1994 to 2000 and then as the Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee from 2000-2006. In the 110th Congress, Representative Young has returned to the helm of the Resources Committee to lead his fellow Republicans as the Ranking Member.

STATE POLITICAL PARTIES:

Alaskan Independence Party
Alaska Democratic Party
Alaska Green Party
Alaska Libertarian Party
Republican Party of Alaska
Republican Moderate Party of Alaska

GOVERNORS OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:

Tony Knowles with Fran Ulmer

William A. Egan - January 3, 1959 to December 5, 1966 (Democratic)

Walter J. Hickel - December 5, 1966 to January 29, 1969 (Republican)

Keith Miller - January 29, 1969 to December 7, 1970 (Republican)

William A. Egan - December 7, 1970 to December 2, 1974 (Democratic)

Jay Hammond - December 2, 1974 to December 6, 1982 (Republican)

Bill Sheffield - December 6, 1982 to December 1, 1986 (Democratic)

Steve Cowper - December 1, 1986 to December 3, 1990 (Democratic)

Walter J. Hickel - December 3, 1990 to December 5, 1994 (Alaskan Independence)

Tony Knowles - December 5, 1994 to December 2, 2002 (Democratic)

Frank Murkowski - December 2, 2002 to December 4, 2006 (Republican)

Sarah Palin - December 4, 2006 to July 31, 2009 (Republican)

Sean Parnell - August 1, 2009 incumbent (Republican)

Books of Interest:

Frigid Embrace: Politics, Economics, and Environment in Alaska - "Frigid Embrace" offers a revealing look at the social and political impact of Alaska's economic dependence, with chapters devoted to milestones such as the discovery of the Prudhoe Bay oil field and the Exxon Valdez debacle. It presents for a wide audience a compelling account of Alaska's colonial struggles and offers a key to understanding the historical roots of current environmental controversies.

Alaska Politics and Government (Politics and Governments of the American States) - McBeath and Morehouse describe the workings of Alaska's government: the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, as well as the state's relations with the federal government. The ongoing pattern of federal control and Alaskans' sporadically virulent response to it are emblematic of the tensions between dependence on federal policies and the struggle for equal influence with the other forty-nine states.