2021 Anchorage mayoral election

* * *

| ← 2018 | April 6, 2021 (first round)[1]
May 11, 2021 (runoff)[2] | 2024 →

|
|

Turnout| 31.88% (first round)[3]
38.35% (runoff)[4]
|   |  |  |

|
|
|

Candidate  | Dave Bronson | Forrest Dunbar | Bill Falsey
First round  | 24,567
32.96% | 23,054
30.93% | 9,551
12.82%
Runoff | 45,937
50.66% | 44,744
49.34%  | Eliminated

* * *

|  |
Candidate  | Bill Evans  | Mike Robbins
First round  | 7,073
9.49%  | 5,766
7.74%
Runoff | Eliminated | Eliminated

* * *

Interactive map version
Runoff results by precinct:

Bronson:

50–60%

60–70%

70–80%

Dunbar:

50–60%

60–70%

70–80%

|

* * *

| Mayor before election

Austin Quinn-Davidson
Independent

| Elected Mayor

Dave Bronson
Republican

|

Elections in Alaska

Federal government

|  Presidential elections

* 1960
* 1964
* 1968
* 1972
* 1976
* 1980
* 1984
* 1988
* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2008
* 2012
* 2016
* 2020
* 2024

Presidential primaries and caucuses

Democratic
2008
2016
2020
2024

Republican
2008
2012
2016
2024
U.S. Senate elections

* 1958
* 1960
* 1962
* 1966
* 1968
* 1970 sp
* 1972
* 1974
* 1978
* 1980
* 1984
* 1986
* 1990
* 1992
* 1996
* 1998
* 2002
* 2004
* 2008
* 2010
* 2014
* 2016
* 2020
* 2022
* 2026
* 2028

U.S. House of Representatives elections

* 1958
* 1960
* 1962
* 1964
* 1966
* 1968
* 1970
* 1972
* 1973 sp
* 1974
* 1976
* 1978
* 1980
* 1982
* 1984
* 1986
* 1988
* 1990
* 1992
* 1994
* 1996
* 1998
* 2000
* 2002
* 2004
* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022 sp
* 2022
* 2024
* 2026

State government

|  Statewide elections

* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022
* 2024

Gubernatorial elections

* 1958
* 1962
* 1966
* 1970
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1994
* 1998
* 2002
* 2006
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022
* 2026

Senate elections

* 1958
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022
* 2024
* 2026

House of Representatives elections

* 1958
* 1960
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022
* 2024
* 2026

Ballot measures

* 1990
* 2
* 1998
* 2
* 2008
* ACWI
* 2014
* 2
* 2020
* 2
* 2024
* 2

Anchorage

|  Mayoral elections

* 1975
* 1978
* 1981
* 1984
* 1987
* 1990
* 1994
* 1997
* 2000
* 2003
* 2006
* 2009
* 2012
* 2015
* 2018
* 2021
* 2024

Municipal propositions

* 2018 (1)
* 2025

Borough elections

* 1963 (Sep.)
* 1963 (Dec.)
* 1965

* v
* t
* e

The 2021 Anchorage mayoral election was held on April 6, 2021, to elect the mayor of Anchorage, Alaska.[1] As no candidate received at least 45% of the vote in the first round, the two candidates with the highest vote share, Forrest Dunbar and Dave Bronson, advanced to a runoff on May 11.[2][5] The election was officially nonpartisan. Incumbent independent acting mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson, first appointed to the position in October 2020, was eligible to run for reelection to a full term, but did not run.[6][7][8] The deadline to register to vote in the first round was March 7. Mail-in ballots were sent out starting on March 15. On May 21, 2021, after a narrow loss, Dunbar conceded the race to Bronson.[9] Bronson was sworn in on July 1.[5]

## Background

[edit]

Ethan Berkowitz was elected mayor in 2015 and 2018 and was ineligible to run for a third term. On October 13, 2020, he announced his resignation through his chief of staff Jason Bockenstadt at a meeting of the Anchorage Assembly, Anchorage's city council, to be effective October 23. The resignation came after a reporter made allegations that he was engaged in an inappropriate relationship with her.[10] Felix Rivera, chair of the Anchorage Assembly, was next in the line of succession to the office. After a failed attempt immediately following the resignation announcement, the Assembly met in a special meeting on October 16 to reorganize itself, installing Austin Quinn-Davidson as Assembly chair with Rivera as vice-chair. This move allowed Quinn-Davidson to succeed to the office of mayor and allowed Rivera to retain his position presiding over Assembly meetings.[10] Quinn-Davidson is both the first female and first openly gay mayor of Anchorage.[11] On November 4, the Assembly voted not to hold a special election for the position of mayor, meaning that the next election for the seat would be the regularly scheduled one in 2021.[12]

## General election

[edit]

In the leadup to the general election, it was widely believed that there would be a runoff between Dunbar and one of the more conservative candidates.[5]

### Candidates

[edit]

#### Major candidates

[edit]

* Dave Bronson (Republican), former U.S. Air Force and commercial pilot[13]
* Forrest Dunbar (Democratic), Member of the Anchorage Assembly (2016–present), member of the Alaska Army National Guard[14][15]
* Bill Evans (Independent), Member of the Anchorage Assembly (2014–2017), board and two-time co-chair of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce[13]
* Bill Falsey (Independent), Anchorage Municipal Manager (2017–2020)[13]
* George Martinez (Democratic), educator, former special assistant to Ethan Berkowitz for economic development[13]
* Mike Robbins (Republican), businessman[13]

#### Other registered candidates

[edit]

* Anna Anthony[16]
* Jeffrey Brown, social services worker[16][5]
* Darin Colbry (Republican), candidate for Governor of Alaska in 2018[16][13][17][18]
* Heather Herndon, real estate developer, construction, project manager, accountant, portfolio private placement financier[16][17][13]
* Jacob Seth Kern (Democratic), perennial candidate[8][16][19]
* Reza Momin[16]
* Albert Swank Jr., civil engineer[16]
* Jacob Versteeg, compliance examiner[20]
* Joe Westfall[16]

#### Withdrawn

[edit]

* Eric Croft (Democratic), former state representative, former member of the Anchorage Assembly, former president of the Anchorage School Board, and candidate for governor of Alaska in 2006[8][17]
* Dustin Darden, maintenance worker and perennial candidate[21][22][16]
* Nelson Jesus Godoy, activist and candidate for mayor in 2018[8][16]

#### Declined

[edit]

* Austin Quinn-Davidson (Independent), incumbent acting mayor[17]

### Endorsements

[edit]

Dave Bronson (R)

* Jamie Allard, current Anchorage Assemblyman
* Rick Mystrom, former mayor (also endorsed Martinez and Robbins)[5]
* Dan Sullivan, current United States Senator from Alaska

Forrest Dunbar (D)

State officials

* Johnny Ellis, former Majority Leader of the Alaska Senate[23]

Organizations

* AFL–CIO[24]
* AFSCME Local 52[23]
* Anchorage Democratic Party[23]
* Anchorage Education Association[23]
* Anchorage Firefighters Union[23]
* Ironworkers Union Local 751[23]
* IBEW Local 1547[23]
* International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302[23]
* Laborers' Union, Alaska District[23]
* Planned Parenthood (also endorsed Martinez)[24]
* Teamsters Local 959[23]
* Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 367[23]

Bill Evans (I)

* Chuck Kopp, former state representative (Republican)[25]
* Dan Sullivan, former mayor, nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Alaska in 2014, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2016 (Republican) (no relation to U.S. Senator from Alaska Dan Sullivan)[26]

George Martinez (D)

People

* Rick Mystrom, former mayor (Republican) (also endorsed Bronson and Robbins)[5]

Organizations

* Planned Parenthood (also endorsed Dunbar)[5]

Mike Robbins (R)

* Rick Mystrom, former mayor (also endorsed Bronson and Martinez)[16]

### Fundraising

[edit]

Campaign finance reports as of February 18, 2021

Candidate (party, if known)  | Total raised
Anna Anthony  | did not file
Dave Bronson (R)  | $162,482
Jeffrey Brown  | did not file
Darin Colbry (R)  | $0
Forrest Dunbar (D)  | $252,216
Bill Evans (I)  | $98,480
Bill Falsey (I)  | $106,285
Heather Herndon  | $0
Jacob Seth Kern (D)  | did not file
George Martinez (D)  | $60,086
Reza Momin  | did not file
Mike Robbins (R)  | $210,058
Albert Swank Jr.  | $0
Jacob Versteeg  | did not file
Joe Westfall  | did not file
[27][24]

### Debates

[edit]

Five candidates did not participate in either debate: Anna Anthony, Darin Colbry, Jacob Seth Kern, Reza Momin, and Jacob Versteeg.

2021 Anchorage mayoral election debates

No. | Date & time | Host | Moderator | Link | Participants
Key:
P  Participant    A  Absent    N  Non-invitee    I  Invitee  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Dave Bronson  | Jeffrey Brown  | Forrest Dunbar  | Bill Evans  | Bill Falsey  | Heather Herndon  | George Martinez  | Mike Robbins  | Albert
Swank Jr.  | Joe Westfall
1[28]   |

February 16, 2021

Anchorage Daily News

Tom Hewitt

Video[29]

| P | N | P | P | P | N | P | P | N | N
2[30]   |

March 18, 2021

West Anchorage
Community Councils

Unknown

Not recorded

| P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P

### Polling

[edit]

Poll source  | Date(s)
administered  | Sample
size[a] | Margin
of error  | Dave
Bronson  | Forrest
Dunbar  | Bill
Falsey  | Mike
Robbins  | Other  | Undecided

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Independent pollster at APOC[31] | Released March 8, 2021  | – (V)[b] | –  | 20% | 22% | 8%  | 8%  | 9%[c] | 33%

### Results

[edit]

General election results[32] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Dave Bronson | 24,567  | 32.96
| Nonpartisan | Forrest Dunbar | 23,054  | 30.93
| Nonpartisan | Bill Falsey  | 9,551  | 12.82
| Nonpartisan | Bill Evans  | 7,073  | 9.49
| Nonpartisan | Mike Robbins  | 5,766  | 7.74
| Nonpartisan | George Martinez  | 2,753  | 3.69
| Nonpartisan | Heather Herndon  | 451  | 0.61
| Nonpartisan | Jeffrey Brown  | 307  | 0.41
| Nonpartisan | Anna Anthony  | 306  | 0.41
| Nonpartisan | Albert Swank Jr.  | 231  | 0.31
| Nonpartisan | Joe Westfall  | 83  | 0.11
| Nonpartisan | Jacob Seth Kern  | 52  | 0.07
| Nonpartisan | Reza Momin  | 52  | 0.07
| Nonpartisan | Jacob Versteeg  | 43  | 0.06
| Nonpartisan | Darin Colbry  | 31  | 0.04
| Write-in | 205  | 0.28
Total votes | 74,525  | 100.00

## Runoff

[edit]

In the leadup to the runoff, third-place primary finisher Falsey and sixth-place finisher Martinez endorsed Dunbar, while fifth-place finisher Robbins endorsed Bronson.[33][34] Fourth-place finisher Evans did not make an endorsement.

### Polling

[edit]

Poll source  | Date(s)
administered  | Sample
size[d] | Margin
of error  | Dave
Bronson  | Forrest
Dunbar  | Undecided

|
|
|
|
|
|

Alaska Survey Research[35] | April 9–12, 2021  | 322 (LV)  | ± 5.5%  | 44%  | 45% | 11%

### Results

[edit]

Runoff results[36] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Dave Bronson | 45,937  | 50.66
| Nonpartisan | Forrest Dunbar | 44,744  | 49.34
Total votes | 90,681  | 100.00

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear
2. ^ Not yet released
3. ^ Bill Evans with 5%; George Martinez with 2%; Other (5 candidates) with 2%
4. ^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Republican Mike Robbins joins 2021 Anchorage mayoral race". Anchorage Daily News. August 20, 2020.
2. ^ a b "Dave Bronson, backed by 'Save Anchorage' group, enters crowded mayoral race". Anchorage Daily News. August 26, 2020.
3. ^ Official Results 2021[permanent dead link]
4. ^ Official Results 2021[permanent dead link]
5. ^ a b c d e f g "In a crowded race, many candidates for Anchorage mayor say they're aiming to make it to an expected runoff". Anchorage Daily News. February 15, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
6. ^ George, Kavitha; Anchorage, Alaska Public Media- (October 17, 2020). "Assembly reorganizes, elects Austin Quinn-Davidson to become interim mayor". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
7. ^ Buxton, Matt (August 8, 2018). "Progressive Quinn-Davidson wins big in Anchorage Assembly special election". The Midnight Sun. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
8. ^ a b c d Mathews, Cheyenne. "Anchorage municipal manager files to run for mayor". Alaska's News Source.
9. ^ "Bronson set to win race for Anchorage mayor; Dunbar concedes". Anchorage Daily News. May 22, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
10. ^ a b Goodykoontz, Emily (October 16, 2020). "Anchorage Assembly chooses Austin Quinn-Davidson to serve as acting mayor". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
11. ^ "Anchorage chooses 1st woman, openly gay acting mayor". NBC News.
12. ^ "Anchorage Assembly rejects special election for mayor". Anchorage Daily News. November 5, 2020.
13. ^ a b c d e f g George, Kavitha; Anchorage, Alaska Public Media- (January 18, 2021). "Candidates begin filing for Anchorage municipal office". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
14. ^ "Here's who has filed to run for Anchorage mayor and the Anchorage School Board so far". Anchorage Daily News. January 21, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
15. ^ "Forrest Dunbar". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Here are all the candidates running for Anchorage mayor and school board". Anchorage Daily News. January 30, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
17. ^ a b c d "2021 Anchorage mayoral race takes shape with a crowded field". Anchorage Daily News. December 6, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
18. ^ "Darin Colbry". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
19. ^ Staff, T. N. L. "Anchorage Mayoral Candidate Profiles | The Northern Light". Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
20. ^ "2021 Elections Mayor Candidate - Jacob Versteeg". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
21. ^ "Dustin Darden". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
22. ^ "Mayoral election in Anchorage, Alaska (2021)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Endorsements". Forrest Dunbar for Mayor. Retrieved June 9, 2021.[permanent dead link]
24. ^ a b c "Dunbar so far outraises competitors for Anchorage mayor's office by tens of thousands of dollars". Anchorage Daily News. February 18, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
25. ^ "Evans offers clear-headed, unifying leadership for Anchorage". Anchorage Daily News. February 7, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
26. ^ George, Kavitha; Anchorage, Alaska Public Media- (December 21, 2020). "Former Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan endorses Bill Evans". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
27. ^ George, Kavitha; Anchorage, Alaska Public Media- (February 19, 2021). "Dunbar, Robbins lead in fundraising for Anchorage mayoral race". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
28. ^ "Watch: 6 Anchorage mayoral candidates debate homelessness and housing in online forum". Anchorage Daily News. February 17, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
29. ^ Video
30. ^ "Candidates for Anchorage mayor are set to debate in online forum Thursday night. Here's how to watch". Anchorage Daily News. March 19, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
31. ^ Independent pollster at APOC
32. ^ https://www.muni.org/Departments/Assembly/Clerk/Elections/Election_Results/2021_Official_Results-_initialed.pdf [dead link]
33. ^ Goodykoontz, Emily. "Falsey endorses Dunbar and Robbins endorses Bronson in race for Anchorage mayor". Achorage Daily News.
34. ^ Goodykoontz, Emily. "George Martinez endorses Forrest Dunbar in Anchorage mayoral race". Achorage Daily News.
35. ^ Alaska Survey Research
36. ^ http://www.muni.org/Departments/Assembly/Clerk/Elections/Election_Results/May_11_2021_Mayor_Runoff_Election_Official_Results.pdf [dead link]

## External links

[edit]

Official campaign websites

* Dave Bronson (R) for Mayor Archived January 11, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
* Forrest Dunbar (D) for Mayor
* Bill Evans (I) for Mayor Archived March 9, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
* Bill Falsey (I) for Mayor Archived January 20, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
* Heather Herndon for Mayor Archived March 16, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
* George Martinez (D) for Mayor
* Mike Robbins (R) for Mayor Archived January 23, 2021, at the Wayback Machine

* v
* t
* e

(2020 ←)   2021 United States elections   (→ 2022)

U.S. Senate|

* Georgia
* Georgia (special)
* Puerto Rico (shadow)

U.S. House|

* Louisiana
* 2nd sp
* 5th sp
* New Mexico
* 1st sp
* Ohio
* 11th sp
* 15th sp
* Texas
* 6th sp
* Puerto Rico (shadow)

Governors|

* California (recall)
* New Jersey
* Virginia
* Lt. Gov

Attorneys
general|

* Virginia

State
legislatures|

* New Jersey
* Assembly
* Senate
* Virginia
* House

Mayors|

* Albany, NY
* Albuquerque, NM
* Alexandria, VA
* Allentown, PA
* Anchorage, AK
* Annapolis, MD
* Arlington, TX
* Atlanta, GA
* Birmingham, AL
* Boston, MA
* Buffalo, NY
* Burlington, VT
* Cedar Rapids, IA
* Cincinnati, OH
* Cleveland, OH
* Detroit, MI
* Durham, NC
* Fort Worth, TX
* Harrisburg, PA
* Hoboken, NJ
* Jackson, MS
* Kansas City, KS
* Lansing, MI
* Manchester, NH
* Miami, FL
* Minneapolis, MN
* Mobile, AL
* New Haven, CT
* New Orleans, LA
* New York, NY
* Dem
* North Miami, FL
* Omaha, NE
* Overland Park, KS
* Pittsburgh, PA
* Rochester, NY
* Saint Paul, MN
* San Antonio, TX
* Seattle, WA
* Springfield, MO
* St. Louis, MO
* St. Petersburg, FL
* Stamford, CT
* Syracuse, NY
* Toledo, OH
* Westchester County, NY
* Worcester, MA

Local|

* Boston, MA
* Cleveland, OH
* Dallas, TX
* Minneapolis, MN
* Council
* New York, NY
* Borough presidents
* Comptroller
* Council
* Public Advocate
* New York County, NY
* Plano, TX
* Seattle, WA
* City Attorney
* Council
* recall

States and
territories|

* Alabama
* Alaska
* California
* Connecticut
* Florida
* Georgia
* Louisiana
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Missouri
* Nebraska
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* New York
* Ohio
* Pennsylvania
* Texas
* Vermont
* Virginia
* Washington
* Wisconsin

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[No.]: Number
*[NY]: New York
*[NM]: New Mexico
*[VA]: Virginia
*[PA]: Pennsylvania
*[AK]: Alaska
*[MD]: Maryland
*[TX]: Texas
*[GA]: Georgia
*[AL]: Alabama
*[MA]: Massachusetts
*[VT]: Vermont
*[IA]: Iowa
*[OH]: Ohio
*[MI]: Michigan
*[NC]: North Carolina
*[NJ]: New Jersey
*[MS]: Mississippi
*[KS]: Kansas
*[NH]: New Hampshire
*[FL]: Florida
*[MN]: Minnesota
*[CT]: Connecticut
*[LA]: Louisiana
*[NE]: Nebraska
*[WA]: Washington (state)
*[MO]: Missouri