1996 United States Senate election in Alaska

The 1996 United States Senate election in Alaska was held on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Republican United States Senator Ted Stevens ran for re-election to a fifth term in the United States Senate. Stevens faced off against Democratic nominee Theresa Obermeyer, a former member of the Anchorage School Board,^[1] and Green Party nominee Jed Whittaker, a commercial fisherman.

The race drew national attention for Obermeyer's erratic behavior: she blamed Stevens for her husband's failure to pass the bar exam and contended that he had passed the bar by fraud. She "trailed" him to campaign events, frequently wearing a prisoner's outfit and once dragging a ball and chain behind her. During the campaign, she was arrested and served 30 days in prison in California and Oregon for probation violations.^[2]

Stevens was re-elected in an overwhelming landslide and Whittaker finished ahead of Obermeyer.

Open primary

Candidates

Democratic

Michael Beasley, perennial candidate
Henry J. Blake, Jr.
Lawrence Freiberger, former congressional candidate
Robert Alan Gigler
Theresa Obermeyer, former Anchorage School Board member
Joseph A. Sonneman, perennial candidate
Frank Vondersaar, perennial candidate

Republican

Ted Stevens, incumbent United States Senator
David Cuddy, former Alaska State Representative
Charles E. McKee

Green

Jed Whittaker, commercial fisherman

Results

Open primary results^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ted Stevens (inc.)	71,043	58.87
	Republican	Dave W. Cuddy	32,994	27.34
	Democratic	Theresa Obermeyer	4,072	3.37
	Green	Jed Whittaker	3,751	3.11
	Democratic	Joseph A. Sonneman	2,643	2.19
	Democratic	Michael Beasley	1,968	1.63
	Democratic	Henry J. Blake, Jr.	1,157	0.96
	Democratic	Lawrence Freiberger	921	0.76
	Republican	Charles E. McKee	842	0.70
	Democratic	Frank Vondersaar	655	0.54
	Democratic	Robert Alan Gigler	631	0.52
Total votes			138,492	100.00

General election

Results

United States Senate election in Alaska, 1996^[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Ted Stevens (inc.)	177,893	76.71%	+10.48%
	Green	Jed Whittaker	29,037	12.52%
	Democratic	Theresa Obermeyer	23,977	10.34%	−21.85%
	Write-ins		1,009	0.44%
Majority			148,856	64.19%	+30.15%
Turnout			231,916
	Republican hold		Swing

References

^ Kirtley, Jane. "Gag Her with an Injunction | American Journalism Review". Ajr.org. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
^ "Aliens From Outer Space and Other Election Tales". The New York Times. November 7, 1996. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
^ "Official State of Alaska - Primary : August 27, 1996". Elections.alaska.gov. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
^ "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 5, 1996" (PDF). Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved 2013-09-16.

[1] Kirtley, Jane. "Gag Her with an Injunction | American Journalism Review". Ajr.org. Retrieved 2013-09-16.

[2] "Aliens From Outer Space and Other Election Tales". The New York Times. November 7, 1996. Retrieved 4 June 2014.

[Primary_election_results-3] "Official State of Alaska - Primary : August 27, 1996". Elections.alaska.gov. Retrieved 2013-09-16.

[4] "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 5, 1996" (PDF). Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved 2013-09-16.

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