AK-GOV: Bill Walker running

[JMT]

I didn't see a previous thread for this race, but please merge if I missed it!

Former Governor Bill Walker today announced he is running for Governor again as an independent:

https://www.adn.com/politics/2021/08/17/former-alaska-gov-bill-walker-files-paperwork-to-run-in-2022-election/

Also worth noting that Governor Mike Dunleavy announced his bid for re-election last week:

https://www.adn.com/politics/2021/08/13/alaska-gov-mike-dunleavy-files-paperwork-to-begin-fundraising-for-re-election-in-2022/

[Canis]

Thread title suggestion: Bill Walker Drops In

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Thread title suggestion: Bill Walker Drops In

[brucejoel99]

B- bu- but that's impossible! Bill Walker can't be running! Bill Walker dropped out!!

[PSOL]

Like I said on Discord, it was a shame for Democrats to not back Walker instead of running their own candidate, he would have had a closer margin.

I give my endorsement to one of the best governors of the 2010s.

[Sir Mohamed]

DOA

[Mexican Wolf]

Alternate alternate thread title suggestion: Turn On, Tune In, Bill Walker

IIRC, Walker left the governorship with very low approval ratings in 2019 (25% approval to 54% disapproval, according to Morning Consult - https://morningconsult.com/2018/10/10/americas-most-and-least-popular-governors-q3-2018/). Anyone know if his support among Alaskan voters has improved at all since then?

I guess he'll try to capitalize on Dunleavy's shaky approval ratings and argue that him returning as governor would be the best thing for Alaska, but right now I'm skeptical of him making the Top 4.

[Xing]

DOA

I’m assuming this means “Drop Out Already”, right?

[SnowLabrador]

He's not going to win.

[An American Tail: Fubart Goes West]

Alternate alternate thread title suggestion: Turn On, Tune In, Bill Walker

…

I guess he'll try to capitalize on Dunleavy's shaky approval ratings and argue that him returning as governor would be the best thing for Alaska, but right now I'm skeptical of him making the Top 4.

Oh, that’s a solid title idea too.

I think he could make the top 4; who else is in? Dunleavy, I know. Walker, obviously.

[brucejoel99]

Alternate alternate thread title suggestion: Turn On, Tune In, Bill Walker

…

I guess he'll try to capitalize on Dunleavy's shaky approval ratings and argue that him returning as governor would be the best thing for Alaska, but right now I'm skeptical of him making the Top 4.

Oh, that’s a solid title idea too.

I think he could make the top 4; who else is in? Dunleavy, I know. Walker, obviously.

Les Gara, a Democratic former Anchorage state rep., & Billy Toien, the Libertarian gubernatorial nominee in 2010 & 2018.

[President Johnson]

He may have an outside chance without a Democratic candidate in the race, but even then, it's an uphill battle.

[brucejoel99]

He may have an outside chance without a Democratic candidate in the race, but even then, it's an uphill battle.

Unlike 2018, it's a top-4 RCV race this time, so while he'll need to work to beat Gara on ranks, it's definitely primed to be an easier task for him this time around than it was when he was running a 3-way plurality race against Dunleavy & Begich.

[Canis]

Yeah, I think Walker definitely makes the top 4 I'm not sure if he beats Dunleavy but I think he can def make it.

[President Johnson]

He may have an outside chance without a Democratic candidate in the race, but even then, it's an uphill battle.

Unlike 2018, it's a top-4 RCV race this time, so while he'll need to work to beat Gara on ranks, it's definitely primed to be an easier task for him this time around than it was when he was running a 3-way plurality race against Dunleavy & Begich.

I already forgot about that, though Dunleavy is probably still favored despite the efforts to recall him.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Safe D flip

[JMT]

Les Gara is in:

https://www.adn.com/politics/2021/08/20/former-anchorage-state-rep-les-gara-joins-race-for-alaska-governor/

[Mr. Smith]

Don't worry, he'll...drop out...again.

[One Term Floridian]

If Bill Wanker drops out again, I will drop out of the forum for one year /s

[JMT]

This is odd:

https://twitter.com/Bencjacobs/status/1475950648231407629?s=20

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Trump actually spelled ANWR ANWAR. What a ing idiot. He obviously knows a lot about Alaska.

Covfefe

[An American Tail: Fubart Goes West]

Trump actually spelled ANWR ANWAR. What a ing idiot. He obviously knows a lot about Alaska.

He knows that it and Hawaii are the two southernmost states. It has a wall between it and Mexico.



Map is in the public domain.

[JMT]

https://twitter.com/politics1com/status/1476196145181478916?s=21

[beesley]

By all accounts I've seen, Walker dropped out because even as an incumbent he couldn't harness the non-Republican vote or get any crossover. I get that Dunleavy is just as unpopular, but is there any reason why Walker would be a viable winner other than being the 'least worst' beneficiary of RCV?

[PSOL]

By all accounts I've seen, Walker dropped out because even as an incumbent he couldn't harness the non-Republican vote or get any crossover. I get that Dunleavy is just as unpopular, but is there any reason why Walker would be a viable winner other than being the 'least worst' beneficiary of RCV?

He was the best governor in decades for the state who was effective working in office.

His inability to garner support was mainly on his efforts trying to save the Alaskan budget from the monster that is the Oil money Ponzi scheme and the Democrats getting over ambitious by running their own candidates who were weak by every measure. Walker, as the first Alaskan born mayor president who had key insights into the Native American community, has the fatal flaw of working too hard to improve the lives of his people. Given that the out-of-touch literally whos Democrats ran failed multiple times statewide, he’s the only shot for better governance.