2022 Alaska Governor Voters Guide

Ban. Is “pro life;” proclaimed a Right to Life Day in Alaska. Supports a constitutional convention where abortion rights would be on the table.

Legal.  “I’ll veto legislation that rolls back the right to choose, and work to expand safe contraception to a year-long prescription.”

Legal. “I will veto any legislation that puts the government between a woman and her doctor.” Will “defend a woman’s right to make her own reproductive decisions.”

No. Focus on traditional in-state petroleum production. Abolished Alaska’s climate change strategy commission and restarted previously halted pipeline projects.

Mostly yes. Supports renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and ending oil company subsidies. Supports natural gas line projects to encourage gas export to other countries.

Mostly yes. “We can no longer ignore climate change in Alaska.” Will “re-establish the Climate Change Action Leadership Team.” Supports a state-level policy on lowering emissions. Calls for carbon fee on imports of fuel and goods but not on exports of Alaska oil and gas; give the money to taxpayers.

Yes. “Our Framers ensured that the people of Alaska would regularly get a voice if they want any changes to the Constitution. I trust the people of Alaska, and will respect either decision they make.”

No. “I’ll oppose a ‘Constitutional Convention,’ which is on the ballot in 2022. Extremists want a Convention so they can eliminate a woman’s right to choose more quickly, and adopt other fringe ideas they won’t reveal.”

No. Opposes “the efforts to pass a constitutional convention in November. The effort to shred our constitution through a convention presents great dangers to Alaska.”

“Critical race theory is a false narrative that ignores our history of striving to improve. It has no place in our schools.”

Critical race theory is “a red herring for people to say that they don’t want to teach people the truth about our history of racism.”

No position found.

Mixed. In June signed a budget adding millions of dollars for K-12 and the Univ. of Alaska system. In 2019, sought cuts amounting to a nearly 41% decline in state funding to the Alaska university system.

Yes. In 2018 introduced a bill increasing base student allocation. In 2015, voted for an amendment to restore the promised statutory $32 million in education funds.

Mixed. “Will support increases to the Base Student Allocation” and supports “reliable, predictable funding.” In 2016 vetoed education spending from state budget that was later reinstalled by way of legislative override.

Yes. Has supported the Pebble Mine, most recently opposing an EPA proposal to restrict mining in the Bristol Bay watershed.

No. Calls the mine “a threat to Bristol Bay’s pristine wild salmon and trout waters,” “the wrong mine in the wrong place.”

No. “While we are pro-development and pro-jobs for Alaskans, we oppose the Pebble Mine.”

Less. Opposes “stricter gun laws.” “Dunleavy continues to fight Biden’s assault on the Second Amendment by refusing enforce any violation of Alaskan’s constitutional rights.”

Mostly more. “I support the 2nd Amendment.” Supports temporary removal of firearms from those that pose danger, with due process. Opposed a bill that prohibited cities from passing stricter gun-control laws than the state.

Mixed. Supports the Second Amendment rights, but will consider measures to prevent gun violence such as “red-flag laws” that remove firearms from those who pose danger. In 2018, said raising the age for long guns is a “possibility.”

No. Supported cutting the state Medicaid budget. During early COVID, opposed mask mandates and suspended nearly 300 business and medical regulations allowing Alaska to be “fully open for business.”

Yes. Supports lowering health care costs, including prescription drug prices. “A responsible Governor would have spent 2021-22 travelling the state, bringing… trusted leaders to local communities to speak about how to end this pandemic.”

Yes. Will “continue to support the expansion of Alaskans’ access to healthcare—as we did when Bill expanded Medicaid in 2015.” Regarding COVID, would “make a clear and public declaration encouraging vaccination” and propose vaccination incentives.

Unclear. In 2019, the Dunleavy-appointed Attorney General joined in a brief arguing transgender people aren’t protected by federal law banning workplace sex discrimination.

Expand.  “Will demand equality regardless of race, color or religion, and regardless of who one loves. Les has sponsored legislation supporting equal LGBTQ rights.”

Expand. “Will work to protect the rights of all Alaskans, including LGBTQIA+ Alaskans.” “Supports a statewide nondiscrimination bill that protects LGBTQIA+ Alaskans.”

No position found on raising the minimum wage. Signed repeal of a statute that had allowed subminimum wages for Alaskans with disabilities.

Raise. Supports raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour.

No position found.

Proposes a new dividend formula called the 50/50, with half of the annual transfer ear-marked for services and half for dividends, a decrease from trad. formula. Supports enshrining the 50/50 plan in the Alaska Constitution.

Supports the traditional dividend formula by using funding from ending $1.2 billion in oil company subsidies; this would create a “strong PFD.”

Unclear. “Will work with the Legislature to update the 40-year-old formula for a predictable amount.” In 2016, faced with an oil price shock, vetoed half of the PFD, ending the traditional dividend formula.

Opposes defunding the police, is open to dialogues for improvements, and says the vast majority of police he’s met are trying to help others. “Strongly supports the men and the women in blue…is hiring troopers at historic rates.”

“We should re-instate a cost-effective pension plan” to give incentives to “police, troopers, and teachers” “to stay in Alaska.” Supports adding more police officers to combat crime and protect communities.

With “a robust law enforcement and justice system, we need to take a hard look at the root causes of violence and crime, and seek to heal the trauma, mental health, and addiction problems driving much of the crime in our homes and on our streets.”

Opposes general tax increases, but has considered a new statewide sales tax and proposed reducing credits paid to oil producers and taxing privately-owned oil and gas companies at the same rate as major producers.

Supports “ending $1.2 billion in oil company tax credit subsidies the state gives to the wealthiest oil companies in the world.” “Giving away money that belongs to Alaskans, for Alaska’s oil, is welfare for the wealthy, and it’s wrong.

“As governor, proposed multiple options to bring long-term fiscal stability.” Supports giving a “hard look” at tax credits, but prefers multiple smaller revenue changes rather than “pulling one lever all the way down.”