Sarah Palin’s Successor Seeking a Full Term

Sarah Palin’s former Lt. Governor, now the Governor of Alaska, is seeking to win a full term in his own right this Fall.

Sean Parnell was elevated to the office of Governor when Palin abruptly announced she would resign in the summer of 2009 to focus on her family and developing a national conservative movement.

Parnell faces his first test on Tuesday, as the state’s Republican voters will head to the polls to pick their nominee. Two notable candidates have cropped up to take on Parnell, though if recent polling is correct it looks like he will prevail.

The latest available poll, conducted during late July by Hellenthal & Associates of Anchorage, showed Parnell holding the support of 60% of the state’s Republican voters to just 15% for former Valdez mayor Bill Walker and 13% for former State House Majority Leader Ralph Samuels.

Both Walker and Samuels have been harsh critics of Parnell, charging that he’s not doing enough to control spending and that he’s failed to fully exploit the state’s oil reserves.

The Parnell race isn’t the only one worth watching on Tuesday.  Senator Lisa Murkowski also faces a renomination fight, she’s being aggressively challenged by former US Magistrate Judge Joe Miller. However, Miller lags far behind Murkowski in most polls.

The state’s lone Congressman, Republican Don Young, faces a little known challenger — financial consultant John Cox.

Both Murkowski and Young are expected to win both their primaries and general elections easily.

Polls suggest Parnell won’t have too much trouble in November against his expected Democratic rival Ethan Berkowitz, a former State House Minority Leader. Polls show Parnell holding about a 20% advantage over Berkowitz, who still has to overcome a spirited challenge from State Senator Hollis French before he actually becomes the Democratic nominee.

The last time Parnell appeared on the ballot it was in 2008, when as the sitting Lt. Governor he challenged Young for renomination.  Parnell lost the primary for the U.S. House seat by only 304 votes.

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