Mike DunleavyMike Dunleavy – AK

Current Position: Governor since 2018
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position: State Senator from 2013 – 2018

Quotes: 
I anticipate Secretary Haaland’s visit to the Last Frontier will provide her with a better understanding of the perils of federal overreach on the health and safety of Alaskans – especially our rural communities.

Mike Dunleavy defeated former U.S. senator Mark Begich in the 2018 gubernatorial election after incumbent governor Bill Walker dropped out of the race. He was reelected in 2022. He spent nearly two decades in northwest Arctic communities working as a teacher, principal, and superintendent.

Executive Excellence: Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy

OnAir Post: Mike Dunleavy – AK

Summary

Current Position: Governor since 2018
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position: State Senator from 2013 – 2018

Quotes: 
I anticipate Secretary Haaland’s visit to the Last Frontier will provide her with a better understanding of the perils of federal overreach on the health and safety of Alaskans – especially our rural communities.

Mike Dunleavy defeated former U.S. senator Mark Begich in the 2018 gubernatorial election after incumbent governor Bill Walker dropped out of the race. He was reelected in 2022. He spent nearly two decades in northwest Arctic communities working as a teacher, principal, and superintendent.

Executive Excellence: Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy

OnAir Post: Mike Dunleavy – AK

News

About

Source: Government page

Mike Dunleavy 1Governor Mike Dunleavy arrived in Alaska in 1983 as a young man looking for opportunity, and he found it. His first job was working in a logging camp in Southeast Alaska. Later on, Governor Dunleavy pursued his dream of becoming a teacher. He earned his teacher’s certificate, and then a master of education degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He spent nearly two decades in northwest Arctic communities working as a teacher, principal, and superintendent.

Governor Dunleavy’s wife Rose is from the Kobuk River Valley community of Noorvik. Together, they have three children – Maggie, Catherine, and Ceil – who were raised in both rural and urban Alaska.

Governor Dunleavy and his family moved to Wasilla in 2004, where he owned an educational consulting firm and worked on a number of educational projects statewide. Dunleavy served on the Mat-Su Borough School Board, with two years as Board President, and then as a state senator for five years.

The Dunleavys enjoy spending time together as a family, often in Alaska’s great outdoors. Hunting, fishing, snowmachining, and camping are all favorite activities.

Governor Dunleavy is focused on moving Alaska forward and believes that our greatest years are yet to come if we work together to maximize our potential.

Personal

Full Name: Michael ‘Mike’ J. Dunleavy

Gender: Male

Family: Wife: Rose; 3 Children: Maggie, Catherine, Ceil Ann

Birth Date: 05/05/1961

Birth Place: Scranton, PA

Home City: Juneau, AK

Religion: Catholic

Source: Vote Smart

Education

MA, Education, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1986-1991

BA, History, College Misericordia, 1983

Political Experience

Governor, State of Alaska, 2018-present

Candidate, Governor of Alaska, 2022

Senator, Alaska State Senate, District E, 2012-2018

Professional Experience

Owner/Educational Consultant, Dunleavy Educational Services, 2012-present

Former Program Manager, Alaska Statewide Mentor Project

Director, K-12 Outreach, University of Alaska Statewide

Former Employee, Logging Camp, Prince Wales Island

Offices

Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 110001
Juneau, AK 99811-0001

(907) 465-3500

1 or 800-770-8973

Anchorage Office
550 West 7th Avenue,
Suite 1700
Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone (907) 269-7450
Fax (907) 269-7463
State Info (907) 269-5111
TTY/TDD (Relay Alaska): 711 or 800-770-8973

Fairbanks Office
675 7th Avenue,
Suite H5
Fairbanks, AK 99701-4596
Phone (907) 451-2920
Fax (907) 451-2858

Kenai Peninsula Office
Mat-Su Office
44539 Sterling Hwy.,
Suite 214
Soldotna, AK 99669

Mat-Su Office
515 East Dahlia Avenue,
Suite 135
Palmer, AK 99645
Phone (907) 420-3999
Fax (907) 420-3998
Phone (907) 761-5691
Fax (907) 761-5610

Washington D.C. Office
444 North Capitol NW,
Suite 336
Washington, DC 20001-1512

Phone (202) 624-5858
Fax (202) 624-5857

Contact

Email: Government page

Web Links

Politics

Source: none

Election Results

To learn more, go to the wikipedia section in this post.

Finances

Source: Vote Smart

New Legislation

More Information

Services

Source: Government page

Wikipedia

Michael James Dunleavy (born May 5, 1961) is an American educator and politician serving since 2018 as the 12th governor of Alaska. A Republican, he was a member of the Alaska Senate from 2013 to 2018. He defeated former U.S. senator Mark Begich in the 2018 gubernatorial election after incumbent governor Bill Walker dropped out of the race. He was reelected in 2022.

Early life, education, and teaching career

Dunleavy was born and raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Scranton Central High School in 1979, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at Misericordia University in 1983.[1] In 1983, he moved to Alaska and his first job was at a logging camp in Southeast Alaska.[2] Later, Dunleavy earned his master’s degree in education from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.[3] He spent nearly two decades in northwest Arctic communities working as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. Dunleavy’s wife, Rose, is from the Kobuk River Valley community of Noorvik. They have three children, who were raised in both rural and urban Alaska. In 2004, Dunleavy and his family moved to Wasilla, where he owned an educational consulting firm and worked on a number of statewide educational projects. Before his election to the Alaska Senate, Dunleavy served on the Matanuska-Susitna Borough board, including two years as its president.[2]

State legislative career

Dunleavy defeated incumbent state senator Linda Menard (redistricted from District G) in the District D August 28, 2012, Republican primary with 2,802 votes (57.42%).[4] He was unopposed in the November 6 general election and won with 11,724 votes (94.24%) against write-in candidates.[5]

Governor of Alaska

Elections

2018

In 2017, Dunleavy announced he would run for governor in 2018 but abandoned the race in September 2017, citing heart problems.[6] In December 2017 he announced his return to the race.[7]
He resigned his senate seat effective January 15, 2018, to focus on his campaign.[8] Retired United States Air Force lieutenant colonel Mike Shower was chosen as his successor by Governor Bill Walker and confirmed by the Alaska Senate caucus after numerous replacement candidates were rejected.[9]

2022

In August 2021, Dunleavy announced his candidacy for reelection in 2022.[10] He was reelected with 50.3% of the vote, becoming the first incumbent Republican governor to be reelected since Jay Hammond in 1978 and the first governor of any political affiliation to be reelected since Tony Knowles in 1998.[11][12]

Tenure

Dunleavy speaking in the governor’s office, accompanied by members of his administration, on May 15, 2019.
Dunleavy meeting with residents at a meeting regarding the Deshka Landing Fire in 2019.

Dunleavy and Kevin Meyer were the Republican nominees for governor and lieutenant governor of Alaska, respectively, and were elected in the November 2018 general election. Dunleavy was sworn in on December 3, 2018. He appointed Kevin Clarkson to be Alaska attorney general.[13]

On June 28, 2019, Dunleavy exercised line-item veto authority as governor to make cuts of $433 million, including a cut of $130 million (41%) of state contributions to the University of Alaska.[14]

Also on June 28, 2019, Dunleavy vetoed $335,000 from the budget of the Alaska Supreme Court, stating that he did so because the Court had held that the state was constitutionally required to provide public funding for elective abortions.[15]

In September 2020, Dunleavy agreed to reimburse the state $2,800 for allegedly partisan advertisements that were paid for with state funds. Dunleavy did not admit to wrongdoing, but stated that it was in the best interest of the state to resolve the allegations.[16]

On September 6, 2022, a complaint was filed against Dunleavy alleging that his campaign was paying staffers with state funds.[17]

In 2023, one of Dunleavy’s advisors, Jeremy Cubas, resigned after inflammatory statements he made on his podcast became common knowledge.[18]

Recall attempt

On July 15, 2019, an effort to recall Dunleavy began after a public backlash over his cuts to public assistance, education and the University of Alaska ($135 million cut to state funding, about a 41% reduction).[19] It was the second recall petition against a governor in Alaska history, the first being the failed petition against Governor Wally Hickel.[20] Had the recall election been successful, Lieutenant Governor Kevin Meyer would have become governor.[21]

To have the petition certified by the Division of Elections, the petitioners were first required to submit 28,501 signatures (approximately 10% of the voting population in Alaska’s last general election).[22] On September 5, 2019, volunteers submitted 49,006 petition signatures.[23] On November 4, 2019, the Division of Elections declined to certify the recall petition after the Alaska attorney general Kevin Clarkson, a Dunleavy appointee, issued a legal opinion.[24] Clarkson acknowledged that the petitioners had submitted enough signatures and paid the necessary fees, but asserted that “the four allegations against the governor ‘fail to meet any of the listed grounds for recall—neglect of duty, incompetence, or lack of fitness’”. The petitioners said they would appeal the division’s decision.[25]

In January 2020, Anchorage Superior Court Judge Eric Aarseth rejected the division’s decision not to certify the recall petition. The state appealed Aarseth’s ruling to the Alaska Supreme Court, which on May 8 affirmed that the recall effort could proceed.[26][27]

Recall petitions in Alaska have two rounds. The second round requires 25% of the votes cast in the previous general election.[28] Once the second completed petition is submitted to the Division of Elections it will either accept or refuse the petition. The deadline to submit signatures for the petition is 180 days before the end of the governor’s term, which in this case is June 8, 2022.[29] If a recall is successful, the vacancy is filled “as a vacancy caused by any other means”.[30] If a recall election against the governor is successful, the lieutenant governor finishes the term.[28] If the petition is accepted, the Division of Elections schedules a recall election.[29]

On February 18, 2021, the recall campaign announced it had 55,613 signatures of the 71,252 required to submit the second petition to the Division of Elections.[31] On March 18, 2021, Dunleavy said he believed the recall election would occur in the summer of 2021 and planned to campaign to remain in office.[32] As of August 21, 2021, 62,373 signatures had been collected.[33]

The “Recall Dunleavy” effort failed to submit enough signatures to trigger a recall election in November 2020 or in 2021.[34] As of December 2022, not enough signatures have been collected, and Dunleavy won a second term as governor in November 2022 as part of the usual electoral process, making him the first governor to be reelected since Tony Knowles in 1998, and the first Republican governor to be reelected since Jay Hammond in 1978.

Graphical summary of recall opinions polling
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Yes
on recall
No
on recall
Undecided
DittmanResearch/Keep Dunleavy[A]December 2–6, 2020502 (LV)± 4.4%39%57%4%
Public Policy Polling[B]July 7–8, 20201,081 (V)± 3.0%39%46%15%
Alaska Survey ResearchJune 23 – July 7, 2020663 (LV)± 3.8%44%50%6%
Alaska Survey ResearchApril, 2020– (V)[b]42%48%11%
Alaska Survey ResearchDecember, 2019– (V)[c]48%48%4%
Alaska Survey ResearchSeptember, 2019– (V)[d]50%42%8%
Notes
  1. ^ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ^ Not yet released
  3. ^ Not yet released
  4. ^ Not yet released
Partisan clients
  1. ^ Poll sponsored by Keep Dunleavy, which opposes the recall
  2. ^ Polling’s funding was crowdsourced by Election Twitter.

Political positions

COVID-19

On March 11, 2020, Dunleavy’s office declared a state of emergency to ensure all entities had the necessary response resources a day before the first case arrived via a foreign national in Anchorage.[35] Two days later, Dunleavy ordered public schools to close from March 16 to 30.[36] That April, Dunleavy activated the State Emergency Operations Center under Alaska’s Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. Joint Task Force-Alaska was stood up to provide a coordinated effort for the Alaska Army and Air National Guard, the Alaska State Defense Force, and the Alaska Naval Militia to support the state.[37]

On May 19, Dunleavy announced the lifting of all state mandates for businesses and public gatherings, keeping only a mandatory (but unenforced) quarantine period for persons coming from out of state.[38] A month later, Dunleavy announced a new extension of the two-week quarantine measure that required visitors to Alaska to present a negative test for the virus if they were not willing to self-quarantine for two weeks.[39]

In April 2021, Dunleavy announced that Alaska would offer free vaccinations to tourists at major airports starting June 1, as part of the United States’ vaccination campaign.[40] That October, Dunleavy refused to issue another COVID-19 disaster declaration, thinking it unnecessary. “Exercising the Disaster Act does not give our team any more health tools than what they need and are using right now”, he said, adding, “Masking is, as I have stated, a local issue best left to local leaders.”[41] Dunleavy later clarified that he didn’t endorse mask or vaccine mandates but wouldn’t ban them either.[42] The next month, he ordered state agencies to ignore federal vaccine mandates, arguing that they were “unconstitutional” and “completely unnecessary” and claiming that Alaska had handled COVID better than nearly every other state.[43]

Abortion

Dunleavy opposes abortion. In July 2019, he vetoed $334,700 for the state to pay for abortions from the court system’s budget. The Dunleavy administration wrote, “The legislative and executive branch are opposed to state-funded elective abortions; the only branch of government that insists on state-funded elective abortions is the Supreme Court.”[44] A year later, Anchorage Superior Court Judge Jennifer S. Henderson ruled that Dunleavy’s vetoes in 2019 and 2020 were unconstitutional and violated the separation of powers doctrine: “In spite of this Court’s faith that the Alaska judiciary remains independent and committed to its essential function of deciding cases according to the rule of law, the Court must unfortunately conclude that in vetoing funds appropriated to the State appellate courts in express retaliation against the Alaska Supreme Court for its legal decision-making, the Governor violated the separation of powers doctrine.”[45]

Environment

Dunleavy rejects the scientific consensus on climate change. In February 2019, he abolished Alaska’s climate change task force, a team instated by Bill Walker, calling it unnecessary.[46]

In September 2019, during a meeting at the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds with Mark Gordon, Dunleavy said that warming the Arctic could be good for Alaska, believing that it could create further business opportunities.[47] In October 2019, Dunleavy clashed with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter over the Green New Deal proposal, saying that the Green New Deal would impact our civilization as we know it.[48]

In September 2020, Dunleavy expressed support for renewable energy ideas: “I know there’s a view on the part of some that a Republican governor that is supportive of Alaska’s resource extraction industries, including those around fossil fuels, would not want anything to do with renewables” and “It makes total sense to explore pumped hydro, using wind as a main source of energy and the reservoir as the batteries.”[49]

In February 2022, Dunleavy denounced the Biden administration’s request for suspension of the Ambler Road Project: “The Biden Administration has opened yet another front in its war on Alaska. You would think President Biden would want to improve access to American sources of copper and other strategic minerals that are needed in our combined efforts to increase renewables. Instead, actions like this only serve to push development to Third World nations that don’t have the environmental ethic that Alaskans have. This pendulum swing away from the last federal administration’s approval disregards extensive environmental studies and widespread social engagement while creating instability in long-term investment.”[50]

Dunleavy has encouraged the United States Environmental Protection Agency to approve the permit for Pebble Mine, which other Alaska politicians oppose because it would threaten the fishery of Bristol Bay.[51]

Criminal justice

In January 2019, Dunleavy announced that he would declare “war on criminals” by proposing four bills that would increase criminal penalties for sexual offenses; reverse a range of reductions to sentences; add a new category of crime called terroristic threatening; increase bail and give judges more discretion in how people charged with crimes are released before trials; and reduce the use of parole. He said, “If you are a criminal, this is the beginning of the end for your activities”, and “If you’re going to assault people—if you’re going to engage in sexual assaults, physical assaults—this is going to be a very unsafe place for you. We’re not going to tolerate it at all.”[52][53]

In May 2020, after the murder of George Floyd, Dunleavy called the act “horrific” and thanked Alaskans for their peaceful protests. “People absolutely have the right to protest: This is America,” Dunleavy said. “What occurred in Minneapolis when Mr. Floyd was killed in that police action, we all know is terrible.” But Dunleavy expressed concern that the protests in Alaska could spread COVID-19, noting that any events that combine people being in close proximity with singing and shouting can spread the virus. He emphasized advice from state officials that people at gatherings wear face masks or stay at least 6 to 10 feet away from others.[54]

Immigration

In May 2022, Dunleavy expressed opposition to the termination of Title 42 by the Center for Disease Control: “The Termination Order is detrimental to the states tasked with enforcing immigration standards, and it is not logically appropriate” and “This policy runs contrary to the Biden Administration’s other declarations because it is expressly premised on the decrease of COVID-19, but the Administration has ignored these facts by enforcing mandatory vaccination and mask mandates.”[55]

Voting rights

In January 2022, Dunleavy called on legislators to improve election integrity by prohibiting automatic voter registration, tracking absentee balloting, requiring signature verification, and implementing voter roll maintenance, saying, “We just want to make sure that as we move forward in Alaska that our concerns, our worries, are taken care of.”[56]

Electoral history

2018 Republican primary results[57]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Dunleavy 43,802 61.5
RepublicanMead Treadwell22,78032.0
RepublicanMichael Sheldon1,6402.3
RepublicanMerica Hlatcu1,0641.5
RepublicanThomas Gordon8841.4
RepublicanGerald Heikes4990.7
RepublicanDarin Colbry4160.6
Total votes71,195 100.0
2018 Alaska gubernatorial election[58]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
RepublicanMike Dunleavy 145,631 51.44% +5.56%
DemocraticMark Begich125,73944.41%+44.41%
IndependentBill Walker (inc.) (withdrawn)5,7572.03%-46.07%
LibertarianWilliam Toien5,4021.91%-1.30%
Write-in6050.21%-0.11%
Total votes283,134 100.0% N/A
Republican gain from Independent
Primary election results[59][60]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican

76,534 40.43
Democratic

43,660 23.06
Independent

43,111 22.77
Republican
  • Charlie Pierce
  • Edie Grunwald

12,458 6.58
Republican7,3073.86
Independence
  • John Howe
  • Shellie Wyatt
1,7020.90
Republican
  • Bruce Walden
  • Tanya Lange
1,6610.88
Libertarian
  • William S. Toien
  • Shirley Rainbolt
1,3810.73
Republican
  • David Haeg
  • Waynette Coleman
1,1390.60
Independent
  • William Nemec
  • Ronnie Ostrem
3470.18
Total votes188,626 100.00
2022 Alaska gubernatorial election[61]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican

132,632 50.29% −1.15%
Democratic
63,85124.21%−20.20%
Independent
54,66820.73%+18.70%
Republican
  • Charlie Pierce
  • Edie Grunwald (withdrew)[a]
11,8174.48%N/A
Write-in7840.30%+0.09%
Total votes263,752 100.0%
Turnout266,47244.33%−5.49%
Registered electors601,161
Republican hold

Notes

  1. ^ Suspended her campaign and endorsed Dunleavy on October 25, 2022 after allegations of sexual harassment against Pierce but remained on the ballot.[62]

References

  1. ^ Hiller, Mark (November 9, 2018). “Alaska Governor-Elect is NEPA native”. Pahomepage.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  2. ^ a b “Biography of Mike Dunleavy”. State of Alaska. Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  3. ^ “Senator Mike Dunleavy’s Biography”. Project Vote Smart. Archived from the original on July 17, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  4. ^ “State of Alaska 2012 Primary Election August 28, 2012 Official Results”. Juneau, Alaska: State of Alaska Division of Elections. Archived from the original on December 30, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  5. ^ “State of Alaska 2012 General Election November 6, 2012 Official Results”. Juneau, Alaska: State of Alaska Division of Elections. Archived from the original on February 24, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  6. ^ Dunleavy suspends campaign for Alaska governor as Huggins files to run Archived November 16, 2018, at the Wayback Machine, Alaska Dispatch News, Nathaniel Herz, September 12, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  7. ^ Denleavy back in race for governor Archived January 14, 2018, at the Wayback Machine, Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, December 22, 2017.
  8. ^ State senator Mike Dunleavy resigns from Legislature to boost gubernatorial run Archived February 26, 2018, at the Wayback Machine, Juneau Empire, James Brooks, January 9, 2018.
  9. ^ Mike Shower confirmed to Dunleavy Senate seat Archived February 27, 2018, at the Wayback Machine, Alaska Public Media, Phillip Manning, February 22, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  10. ^ “Dunleavy for Governor”. www.dunleavygovernor.com. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  11. ^ “Alaska Election Results 2022: Live Map | Midterm Races by County & District”. www.politico.com. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  12. ^ Bohrer, Becky (November 25, 2022). “Mike Dunleavy is 1st Alaska governor reelected since ’98”. Associated Press. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  13. ^ “Dunleavy attorney general appointee Kevin Clarkson is lawyer with ties to religious-liberty causes”. Anchorage Daily News. December 5, 2018. Archived from the original on December 28, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  14. ^ “University of Alaska president: Dunleavy veto is unprecedented and ‘devastating’. Anchorage Daily News. June 28, 2019. Archived from the original on June 29, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  15. ^ Herz, Nathaniel (June 29, 2019). “Alaska Gov. Dunleavy wields veto pen to attack state Supreme Court over abortion ruling”. Alaska Public Media. Archived from the original on July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  16. ^ “Dunleavy to Pay $2,800 After Ads Found to Violate Ethics Law”. www.usnews.com. September 8, 2020. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  17. ^ Dunleavy accused of using state funds to pay campaign staffers and violating campaign finance rules, Alaska Public Media, Kavitha George, September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  18. ^ “Alaska Gov. Dunleavy’s policy adviser who said ‘divorce is worse than rape’ resigns”. Anchorage Daily News.
  19. ^ “Alaska university head offers positive outlook in address”. AP NEWS. March 2, 2020. Archived from the original on March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  20. ^ “Recall History” (PDF). elections.alaska.gov. Alaska Division of Elections. August 29, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  21. ^ “Mike Dunleavy recall, Governor of Alaska (2019-2021)”. ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  22. ^ Minemyer, Derek (August 12, 2019). “Alaskans mount effort to recall governor as huge budget cuts threaten education, Medicaid”. nbcnews.com. NBC News. Archived from the original on August 12, 2019. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  23. ^ “Recall Dunleavy campaign turns in 49,000 signatures collected in 5 weeks”. Anchorage Daily News. September 5, 2019. Archived from the original on September 9, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  24. ^ Attorney general appointee Kevin Clarkson is lawyer with ties to religious-liberty causes, Anchorage Daily News, James Brooks, December 5, 2018. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  25. ^ “Alaska Division of Elections rejects recall petition for Gov. Dunleavy”. Anchorage Daily News. November 4, 2019. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  26. ^ Beran, Jaclyn (May 12, 2020). “Alaska Supreme Court rules Gov. Mike Dunleavy recall can proceed”. Ballotpedia News. Archived from the original on May 29, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  27. ^ Bohrer, Becky (May 8, 2020). “Alaska Supreme Court: Recall effort can proceed”. Juneau Empire. Archived from the original on May 18, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  28. ^ a b “Alaska State Constitution”. alaska.gov. State of Alaska. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  29. ^ a b “State Office Recall Petition Process”. elections.alaska.gov. Alaska Division of Elections. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  30. ^ “Alaska Statutes Title 15 Section 15.45.700”. akleg.gov. The Alaska State Legislature. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  31. ^ Brooks, James (February 21, 2021). “Recall campaign against Alaska Gov. Dunleavy approaches threshold needed to call for a statewide vote, backers say”. adn.com. Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  32. ^ “Dunleavy asked about election plans on Action Line, he expects recall election to happen this summer”. kinyradio.com. KINY800/94.9. March 18, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  33. ^ “Recall Dunleavy”. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  34. ^ “Recall Dunleavy effort misses deadline to appear in general election – Alaska Public Media”. Alaskapublic.org. August 4, 2020. Archived from the original on September 30, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  35. ^ “Governor Issues Public Health Disaster Emergency Declaration for COVID-19 – Mike Dunleavy”. gov.alaska.gov. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  36. ^ “Alaska officials close public schools to students through March 30 to limit spread of coronavirus”. Anchorage Daily News. March 15, 2020. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  37. ^ “Proactive Posture and Partnership The formation of Joint Task Force-Alaska and its preparation to help tackle COVID-19”. DVIDS. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  38. ^ Hanlon, Tegan (May 20, 2020). ‘We’re open’: Alaska businesses can operate at full capacity on Friday, Dunleavy says”. Alaska Public Media. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  39. ^ Meek, Andy (June 7, 2020). “You may have to provide a negative coronavirus test before you visit Alaska”. BGR. Archived from the original on July 30, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  40. ^ Bohrer, Becky. “Alaska to offer tourists COVID-19 vaccines at major airports starting June 1”. USA TODAY. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  41. ^ Maguire, Sean (October 8, 2021). “Alaska governor again rejects calls to issue another COVID-19 disaster declaration”. alaskasnewssource.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  42. ^ Herz, Nathaniel (October 15, 2021). “Alaska Gov. Dunleavy won’t endorse mask or vaccine mandates. But he says he won’t ban them either”. Alaska Public Media. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  43. ^ Mole, Beth (November 3, 2021). “Alaska Governor orders state agencies to ignore federal vaccine mandates”. Ars Technica. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  44. ^ Herz, Nat (July 1, 2019). “Dunleavy wields veto pen to attack state Supreme Court over abortion ruling”. KTOO. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  45. ^ Kitchenman, Andrew (October 16, 2020). “Dunleavy’s court system vetoes because of abortion funding were illegal, judge says”. Alaska Public Media. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  46. ^ Rosen, Yereth (February 26, 2019). “Alaska’s new governor has dismissed the state’s climate team and scrapped its climate policy and plan”. ArcticToday. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  47. ^ Hohenstatt, Ben (September 12, 2019). “Gov says warming Arctic could be good for Alaska”. Juneau Empire. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  48. ^ Buxton, Matt Acuña (October 30, 2019). “Dunleavy, AOC spar over climate change, Green New Deal on Twitter”. The Midnight Sun. Archived from the original on March 5, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  49. ^ “Pro-oil Alaska governor also backs renewable energy ideas”. AP NEWS. September 23, 2020. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  50. ^ “Governor Dunleavy Denounces President Biden’s Obstruction of Ambler Road – Mike Dunleavy”. gov.alaska.gov. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  51. ^ DeMarban, Alex (October 25, 2022). “Alaska Gov. Dunleavy urges EPA to stop veto of Pebble mine”. Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  52. ^ Kitchenman, Andrew (January 24, 2019). “Dunleavy rolls out package in first step of ‘war on criminals’. KTOO. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  53. ^ “Governor Dunleavy Introduces Legislation Addressing Crime in Alaska – Mike Dunleavy”. gov.alaska.gov. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  54. ^ Kitchenman, Andrew (June 4, 2020). “Dunleavy calls George Floyd’s death ‘horrific,’ thanks Alaskans for peaceful protests”. KTOO. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  55. ^ “Alaska Opposes Termination of Title 42 by the CDC – Mike Dunleavy”. gov.alaska.gov. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  56. ^ Maguire, Sean (January 21, 2022). “Dunleavy administration makes renewed election integrity legislation push”. alaskasnewssource.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  57. ^ “2018 Primary Election – Election Summary Report – August 21, 2018 – Official Results”. www.elections.alaska.gov. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  58. ^ “Election results” (PDF). www.elections.alaska.gov. 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  59. ^ “2022 Primary Candidate List”. Alaska Division of Elections. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  60. ^ “August 16, 2022 Primary Election Summary Report – OFFICIAL RESULTS” (PDF). Alaska Division of Elections. September 2, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  61. ^ “State of Alaska | 2022 GENERAL ELECTION | Election Summary Report | November 8, 2022 | OFFICIAL RESULTS” (PDF). Alaska Division of Elections. November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  62. ^ Maguire, Sean (October 25, 2022). “Edie Grunwald suspends campaign as lieutenant governor candidate over Pierce sexual harassment allegations”. Retrieved October 26, 2022.

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X

Mike Dunleavy – AK

Current Position: Governor since 2018
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position: State Senator from 2013 – 2018

Quotes: 
I anticipate Secretary Haaland’s visit to the Last Frontier will provide her with a better understanding of the perils of federal overreach on the health and safety of Alaskans – especially our rural communities.

Mike Dunleavy defeated former U.S. senator Mark Begich in the 2018 gubernatorial election after incumbent governor Bill Walker dropped out of the race. He was reelected in 2022. He spent nearly two decades in northwest Arctic communities working as a teacher, principal, and superintendent.

Executive Excellence: Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy

OnAir Post: Mike Dunleavy – AK

Kay Ivey – AL

Current Position: Governor
Affiliation: Republican
Former Positions: Lt. Governor from 2011 – 2017; Treasurer of Alabama from 2003 – 2011

Featured Quote: 
I’m proud to sign on to an amicus brief, led by @henrymcmaster, urging the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade & restore the authority of states to protect the lives of unborn children. #alpolitics

Ivey became Alabama’s second female governor and the first female Republican governor upon the resignation of her predecessor, Robert J. Bentley. She won a full term in 2018 by 19.1 percentage points against Democratic nominee Walt Maddox and was reelected by 37.7 percentage points over Democratic nominee Yolanda Flowers in 2022. At 79, Ivey is the oldest currently serving governor in the United States.

Coronavirus in Alabama: Gov. Kay Ivey talks COVID-19, vaccines

OnAir Post: Kay Ivey – AL

Sarah Huckabee Sanders – AR

Current Position: Governor from 2023
Affiliation: Republican

Sarah Elizabeth Huckabee Sanders was the 31st White House press secretary, serving under President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2019.

She was the third woman to serve in that position. Sanders previously worked on the election campaigns of her father, Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, and later served as a senior advisor on Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Sanders is the Republican nominee in the 2022 Arkansas gubernatorial election.

She is the first woman to hold the office, the first woman to be governor of a state of which her father was also governor, and the youngest current governor.

OnAir Post: Sarah Huckabee Sanders – AR

Ron DeSantis – FL

Current Position: Governor since 2019
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position: US Representative from 2013 – 2018

DeSantis is a candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. DeSantis won the Republican nomination for the 2018 gubernatorial election and narrowly defeated the Democratic Party nominee, Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum, in the general election by 0.4%.

Featured Quote: 
Forcing kids to wear masks is bad policy. Parents are best equipped to decide whether they want their kids to wear a mask in school. Neither bureaucrats in Washington nor local authorities should be able to override the decision of the parents.

DeSantis Rails Against Fauci, CDC: ‘No To School Closures, No To Restrictions, And No Mandates’

OnAir Post: Ron DeSantis – FL

Brian Kemp – GA

Current Position: Governor since 2018
Affiliation: Republican
Former Positions: Secretary of State from 2010 – 2018; State Senator from 2003 – 2007

Kemp served as the 27th secretary of state of Georgia from 2010 to 2018, and as a member of the Georgia State Senate from 2003 to 2007. Before entering politics, he owned several agribusinesses, financial services, and real estate companies.

OnAir Post: Brian Kemp – GA

Brad Little – ID

Current Position: Governor since 2019
Affiliation: Republican
Former Positions: Lt. Governor from 2009 – 2019; State Senator from 2001 – 2009

Brad Little served as the 42nd lieutenant governor of Idaho from 2009 to 2019 and as an Idaho state senator from 2001 to 2009.

Quotes: 
Brad Little is committed to making decisions through one lens: the lens of ensuring Idaho’s children and grandchildren have the best opportunities to stay in Idaho and for the ones who have left to return.

Brad has advocated his whole life for limited government. He works to ensure the lightest possible hand of government in the lives of Idaho’s citizens, and he seeks to build the public’s confidence in State government.

A candid conversation with Idaho Gov. Brad Little

OnAir Post: Brad Little – ID

Eric Holcomb – IN

Current Position: Governor since 2017
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2022 Governor
Former Positions: Lt. Governor from 2016 – 2017; Chair of the Indiana Republican Party from 2011 – 2013

Holcomb served in the United States Navy for six years, first at Naval Station Great Lakes and later in Florida and Portugal. Holcomb was nominated to fill the remainder of Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann’s term after she resigned on March 2, 2016. He won the 2016 election for governor of Indiana over Democratic nominee John R. Gregg. Holcomb was reelected in 2020 over Democratic nominee Woody Myers and Libertarian nominee Donald Rainwater.

Featured Quote: 
“The Hoosier State has taken sustainability to heart. Indiana lives up to its Crossroads of America motto, with four major interstate highways coming together in Indianapolis, and easy access to much of the Eastern half of the U.S.”

Trine University 2021 Commencement Address – Eric Holcomb

OnAir Post: Eric Holcomb – IN

Kim Reynolds – IA

Current Position: Governor since 2017
Affiliation: Republican
Former Positions: Lt. Governor from 2011 – 2017; State Senator from 2009 – 2010

Reynolds served four terms as Clarke County treasurer beginning in 1994. Reynolds was elected chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) in July 2015. In 2010, Reynolds endorsed a ban on same-sex marriage in Iowa.

Featured Quote: 
Chuck Grassley is a family farmer, taxpayer watchdog & trusted leader in the US Senate. The choice is clear: while Abby Finkenauer supports failed liberal policies like higher taxes, reckless spending & more gov’t, @GrassleyWorks
for Iowa.

 
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ full speech at the Republican National Convention | 2020 RNC Night 2

OnAir Post: Kim Reynolds – IA

Laura Kelly – KS

Current Position: Governor since 2019
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position: State Senator for Kansas 18th District from 2005 – 2019

On January 14, 2019, Laura Kelly was sworn in as the 48th governor of the State of Kansas. She has made it her life’s mission to fight for Kansas children and families on the job, in her community, as a four-term state senator, and as governor.

Laura Kelly has prioritized fully funding public schools, expanding affordable healthcare, reforming the child welfare system and growing the Kansas economy – especially in rural communities  – as governor.

Laura Kelly is ready to bring people together and lead Kansas in the next chapter

OnAir Post: Laura Kelly – KS

Jeff Landry – LA

Current Position: Louisiana Governor since 2023
Affiliation: Republican

Jeff Landry is an attorney who is the governor-elect of Louisiana, having been elected in 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he has served since 2016 as the 45th attorney general of Louisiana and as the U.S. representative for Louisiana’s 3rd congressional district from 2011 to 2013.

Born in St. Martinville, Louisiana, Landry graduated from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. He was a member of the Louisiana National Guard, which he joined while still in high school, for 11 years. While in college, Landry worked as a police officer and sheriff’s deputy

OnAir Post: Jeff Landry – LA

Tate Reeves – MS

Current Position: Governor since 2020
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position: Treasurer of Mississippi from 2004 – 2012

During his tenure, Reeves has changed the state flag, undermined efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, opposed vaccine requirements, and legalized medical cannabis. He was narrowly reelected in 2023, defeating Brandon Presley.

After graduating from college in 1996, Reeves became a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Featured Quote: 
This is brand new data worth considering: Further evidence that Risks associated with NOT getting vaccinated > Risks associated with getting vaccinated! Make the right choice, Mississippi!!

MPB LIVE: Governor Tate Reeves 2021 State of the State Address

OnAir Post: Tate Reeves – MS

Mike Parson – MO

Current Position: Governor since 2018
Affiliation: Republican

Parson served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2005 to 2011 and the Missouri Senate from 2011 to 2017. He was elected lieutenant governor in 2016.

Parson has signed a bill criminalizing abortion after eight weeks of pregnancy and opposed Medicaid expansion. He oversaw the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, issuing a temporary stay-at-home order in April 2020 but allowing schools districts to decide whether to close. Parson placed restrictions on mail-in voting during the 2020 U.S. elections, and oversaw Missouri’s reaction to the George Floyd protests

OnAir Post: Mike Parson – MO

Greg Gianforte – MT

Current Position: Governor since 2021
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position: US Representative from 2017 – 2021

In 1997, Gianforte and his wife, Susan, co-founded RightNow Technologies, a customer relationship management software company. The company went public in 2004; by that time, it employed over 1,000 workers. RightNow Technologies was acquired by Oracle Corporation for $1.5 billion in 2011.

Gianforte began his career in 1983 at Bell Laboratories, working in product acquisition. Gianforte then co-found Brightwork Development Inc., a developer of server-based LAN management software for the banking industry.  He and his partners sold the company to McAfee Associates for $10 million in 1994. Gianforte then began working for McAfee as head of North American sales. In 1995, he moved to Bozeman, Montana.

Quotes:
Gianforte campaigned on getting Montana’s economy going again, getting Montana safely open for business, and getting Montanans back to work in good-paying jobs. He also focused on changing the way Helena and state government do business to better serve Montanans (from website).

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte Signs 3 Landmark Pro-Life Bills

OnAir Post: Greg Gianforte – MT

Jim Pillen – NE

Current Position: Veterinarian and Regent
Affiliation: Republican

Pillen is a former member of the Nebraska State Board of Regents and its former chair from 1975 to 1978, Pillen was a defensive back for the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team under Tom Osborne. He was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

He earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Pillen is a practicing veterinarian and also works as chair of Pillen Family Farms The business, which acquired DNA Genetics in 2003.

OnAir Post: Jim Pillen – NE

Joe Lombardo – NV

Current Position: Sheriff, Clark County
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2023 Governor
Former Position: Army veteran

Joseph Michael Lombardo (born November 8, 1962) is an American law enforcement officer who is serving as the 17th sheriff of Clark County, the head of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), the combined law enforcement agency for Las Vegas and Clark County. Lombardo has held this office since 2015.[1][2][3][4] He is a member of the Republican Party.[5]

Lombardo is not running for re-election as Clark County Sheriff and is instead the Republican nominee for the 2022 Nevada gubernatorial election. Former Nevada Lieutenant Governor Mark Hutchison serves as campaign chairman for Lombardo’s gubernatorial campaign.

OnAir Post: Joe Lombardo – NV

Chris Sununu – NH

Current Position: Governor since 2017
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position: New Hampshire Executive Council from 2011 – 2017

Sununu is a son of former New Hampshire governor and White House Chief of Staff John H. Sununu, and a younger brother of former U.S. representative and senator John E. Sununu.

For ten years, Sununu worked as an environmental engineer designing systems and solutions for cleaning up waste sites. In 2010, Sununu led a group of investors in the buyout of Waterville Valley Resort, where he worked as chief executive officer, employing over 700 people in the White Mountains region. Sununu led an aggressive expansion effort of the ski resort in cooperation with the United States Forest Service. The resort offers skiing, golf, tennis, mountain biking, and an ice arena.

Featured Quote: 
Amid the height of the pandemic NH was one of the few states to invest in broadband expansion with 4,500 previously unserved customers connected. With the signing of bipartisan legislation today, we’re continuing our commitment to connecting rural communities in a sustainable way

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu on how the state avoided large deficits

OnAir Post: Chris Sununu – NH

Doug Burgum – ND

Current Position: Governor since 2016
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position: Tech Entrepeneur from 1983 – 2007

After graduating from college in 1978, and getting an MBA in 1980, he mortgaged inherited farmland in 1983 to invest in Great Plains Software in Fargo. Becoming the company’s president in 1984, he grew Great Plains into a successful large software company. Burgum sold the company to Microsoft for $1.1 billion in 2001.

e has served as board chairman for Atlassian and SuccessFactors. Burgum is the founder of Kilbourne Group, a Fargo-based real-estate development firm, and also is the co-founder of Arthur Ventures, a software venture capital group.

Featured Quote: 
Preliminary figures show our 2019-21 state budget exceeded expectations with a $1B positive balance, nearly $320M more than projected. These robust revenues speak to the strength of ND’s economy and our conservative approach to forecasting and budgeting.

 
The Future Belongs to the Courageously Curious | Doug Burgum | TEDxFargo

OnAir Post: Doug Burgum – ND

Mike DeWine – OH

Current Position: Governor since 2019
Affiliation: Republican
Former Positions: Attorney General from 2011 – 2019; US Senator from 1995 – 2007; US Representative from 1983 – 1991

Mike DeWine served as the 50th Attorney General of Ohio from 2011 to 2019, and in both houses of Congress: in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983 to 1991 and in the U.S. Senate from 1995 to 2007. He is a member of the Republican Party.

At age 25, DeWine started working as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Greene County, Ohio, and in 1976 was elected County Prosecutor, serving for four years.[11][12] In 1980 he was elected to the Ohio State Senate and served one two-year term.

OnAir Post: Mike DeWine – OH

Kevin Stitt – OK

Current Position: Governor since 2019
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position: Founder and CEO of Gateway from 2000 – 2018

He is the founder and former chairman and CEO of Gateway Mortgage Group. In August 2018, after winning the Republican nomination, Stitt stepped down as Gateway CEO as the company announced a merger with a state-licensed bank and sought its banking license. Gateway is a midsize company based in Jenks, Oklahoma. It employs more than 1,500 people and originates mortgages in 42 states.

Featured Quote: 
I am honored to appoint John O’Connor as Attorney General. John is the right leader for this moment. I have the utmost confidence in him to uphold the law and fight for all 4 million Oklahomans.

Featured Video: 
Gov. Stitt, state health officials, host “Get Our Summer Back” press conference

OnAir Post: Kevin Stitt – OK

Henry McMaster – SC

Current Position: US Senator since 2018
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2022 Governor
Former Positions: Lt. Governor from 2015 – 2017; Attorney General from 2003 – 2011; United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina from 1981 – 1985

McMaster worked for U.S. senator Strom Thurmond, both in private practice and as a federal prosecutor. Appointed United States attorney for the District of South Carolina by President Ronald Reagan in 1981, he gained attention for investigating South Carolina marijuana smugglers in Operation Jackpot.

Featured Quote: 
I’m proud to sign on to an amicus brief, led by @henrymcmaster, urging the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade & restore the authority of states to protect the lives of unborn children. #alpolitics

Governor McMaster Media Avail 07/28/21

OnAir Post: Henry McMaster – SC

Kristi Noem – SD

Current Position: Governor since 2019
Affiliation: Republican
Former Positions: US Representative from 2011 – 2019; State Delegate from 2007 – 2011

As governor, Noem rose to national prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic over her refusal to issue a statewide mandate to wear face masks.  Noem left college early to run the family farm. She added a hunting lodge and restaurant to the family property. She completed her degree in political science at SDSU in 2012 while serving in Congress.

Featured Quote: 
There’s no place in America like South Dakota. We’d love to have you join us. Come grow your company; live your life; achieve your dreams. We can make it happen for you right now, because South Dakota Means Business.

‘Help Me Save America’: Kristi Noem Says Governors Must Step Up During CPAC 2021 Speech

OnAir Post: Kristi Noem – SD

Bill Lee – TN

Current Position: US Senator since 2019
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position: CEO Lee Company from 1992 – 2016

Lee was president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Lee Company, a business operated by his family, from 1992 to 2016.

In 2017, Lee described himself as a social conservative.[4] As governor, he has signed bills to ban abortion in Tennessee, mask mandates, and ranked-choice voting; to allow guns to be carried without a permit, create school voucher programs, and increase penalties for protest-related offenses.

Featured Quote: 
.@DollyParton is a Tennessee treasure, and I’m thankful she’s joined us to commemorate Tennessee’s 225 birthday with this new video featuring communities across our state. @Tennessee225 #TN225

Gov. Bill Lee delivers State of the State address

OnAir Post: Bill Lee – TN

Greg Abbott – TX

Current Position: Governor since 2018
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position:   Texas Supreme Court Justice appointed in 1995 by George W. Bush then elected throught 2004; Attorney general  from 2002 to 2010

As Governor, Abbott has promoted a conservative agenda, including measures against abortion such as the Texas Heartbeat Act, lenient gun laws, opposition to illegal immigration, support for law enforcement funding, and election reform.

Abbott graduated from Duncanville High School where he was on the track team, in the National Honor Society and was voted “Most Likely to Succeed”. Abbott went into private practice, working for Butler and Binion, LLP between 1984 and 1992.

Featured Quote: 
We are fighting for the public safety of Texans who live on the border. We are providing law enforcement plus National Guard. We are beginning to build a wall. We are working to prevent entry by illegal migrants with Covid.

Greg Abbott signs new executive order restricting transportation of migrants

OnAir Post: Greg Abbott – TX

Spencer Cox – UT

Current: Governor since 2021
Affiliation: Republican
 

History: A moderate member of the Republican Party, Spencer Cox served as the eighth lieutenant governor of Utah from 2013 to 2021.  In Fairview, Utah, where Cox lives and was raised, he was elected to the city council in 2004 and then as mayor in 2005. In 2008, he was elected as a Sanpete County county commissioner. He was elected to the Utah House of Representatives in 2012. In October 2013, Governor Gary Herbert appointed Cox to replace Greg Bell as lieutenant governor.

Cox was accepted by Harvard Law School, but chose to enroll at Washington and Lee University School of Law, from which he graduated with a Juris Doctor in 2001. Cox was a law clerk for judge Ted Stewart of the United States District Court for the District of Utah. After his clerkship, Cox joined Fabian and Clendenin, a Salt Lake City law firm. He returned to rural Utah and became a vice president of Centracom.

Featured Video: Utah Governor Spencer Cox “working hard” to get young people vaccinated

OnAir Post: Spencer Cox – UT

Phil Scott – VT

Current: Governor since 2017
Affiliation: Republican

Next Election

History: Phil Scott’s father was disabled after being wounded while serving in World War II and later worked as a vehicle permit supervisor for the state highway department. Scott became a co-owner of DuBois Construction in 1986. He is a past president of the Associated General Contractors of Vermont

Phil Scott was a representative for the Washington District in the Vermont Senate from 2001 to 2011 and the 81st lieutenant governor from 2011 to 2017.

Quotes:  Not only would the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework make the U.S. more competitive, create good paying jobs and help modernize our country, but it would also be a much-needed moral victory for a very polarized nation. I hope Congress acts ASAP.

Featured Video: Governor Scott’s 2021 Inaugural Address

OnAir Post: Phil Scott – VT

Jim Justice – WV

Current: Governor since 2015
Affiliation: Republican 

District:
Next Election: US Senate 2024

History: At Marshall, he was a two-year captain on the Thundering Herd golf team. Justice earned his bachelor’s degree and Master of Business Administration from Marshall.  He founded Bluestone Farms in 1977, which now operates 50,000 acres (20,000 ha) of farmland, and is the leading producer of grain on the East Coast of the US. After his father’s death in 1993, Justice inherited ownership of Bluestone Industries and Bluestone Coal Corporation. Forbes estimated Justice’s net worth at $513.3 million as of October 2021.[19][2] Justice serves as the owner or chief executive officer of over 50 companies, including the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, which he bought for $20.5 million in 2009, preventing its bankruptcy.

In 2015, Justice declared his candidacy for governor of West Virginia in the 2016 election as a member of the Democratic Party. In January 2019, Justice declared his candidacy for reelection.[31] This time, he ran as a Republican, having changed his party registration after a 2017 rally with President Donald Trump.

Featured Quote:  Do it for Babydog! Save a life. Change your life. Vaccinated West Virginians – register to win HUGE prizes here

 Featured VideoGov. Justice holds press briefing on COVID-19 response – July 27, 2021

OnAir Post: Jim Justice – WV

Mark Gordon – WY

Current: Governor since 2019
Affiliation: Republican
 

History: Gordon’s paternal grandmother was the philanthropist Louise Ayer Hatheway. His paternal great-grandfather was the industrialist and mill magnate Frederick Ayer, founder of the American Woolen Company, and younger brother of the patent medicine tycoon James Cook Ayer, both of Lowell, Massachusetts. Gordon earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Middlebury College in 1979.

Gordon previously served as state treasurer.

Quotes:  Governor Gordon is working on efforts to set Wyoming on a sustainable fiscal path and making government more accessible, productive and efficient. As part of those efforts, Gordon seeks to refocus government to better assist local communities with the tools and resources needed to thrive and set their own direction. He is also dedicated to ensuring that citizens have access to quality education, including safer schools, advanced degrees, and career and technical education opportunities.

OnAir Post: Mark Gordon – WY

Glenn Youngkin – VA

Current Position: Governor since 2022
Affiliation: Republican

Glenn Youngkin is a homegrown Virginian who grew up in Richmond and Virginia Beach. As his father changed jobs, Glenn learned that moving around didn’t equal moving up – nothing was handed to him. From his first job washing dishes and frying eggs at a diner in Virginia Beach, Glenn embraced hard work and responsibility to help his family when his father lost his job. His determination to succeed earned him multiple high school basketball honors in Virginia and an athletic scholarship to college.

After earning an engineering degree at Rice University, and his MBA at Harvard Business School, Glenn and his wife Suzanne moved to Northern Virginia. Glenn landed a job at The Carlyle Group, where he spent the next 25 years. Working his way to the top of the company, Glenn played a key role in building Carlyle into one of the leading investment firms in the world. His efforts have helped fund the retirements of teachers, police officers, firefighters and other frontline public servants and supported hundreds of thousands of American jobs.

Source: Campaign page

OnAir Post: Glenn Youngkin – VA

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