Candidates await fate as polls close

Former Gov. Sarah Palin and the Tea Party Express made a big push to convince Alaskans to dump Murkowski for Miller.

This was the first test of Palin's influence on Alaska politics since she resigned as governor last summer, and the first sign of how influential the Tea Party movement can be in shaping political races in this state.

The race was being closely watched as a sign of Palin and the Tea Party's strength in Alaska, but also because Murkowski is one of the leading Republicans in the Senate.

The winner of the race will face Democrats Scott McAdams, Frank Vondersaar or Jacob Seth Kern in the November general election for U.S. Senate.

Parnell was facing voters today for the first time since going from lieutenant governor to governor a year ago with Palin's resignation. His main Republican primary opponents are Bill Walker, who ran on a platform of building a gas pipeline from the North Slope to Valdez, and Ralph Samuels, who called for lower oil taxes and budget cuts.

Ethan Berkowitz and state Sen. Hollis French were running against each other in today's Democratic primary for governor.

Congressman Don Young was running a Republican primary race against former ACS executive Sheldon Fisher and John Cox of Anchor Point.

The winner will take on state Rep. Harry Crawford in November.

Today's Republican primary for lieutenant governor consists of Fairbanks Rep. Jay Ramras, Mead Treadwell and Bob Lupo. The candidates in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor are Diane Benson, Jack Powers and Lynette Moreno-Hinz.