2004 United States Senate election in Alaska

The 2004 United States Senate election in Alaska took place on November 2, 2004, alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives, various state and local elections, and the presidential election of that year. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Anchorage, sought election to her first full term after being appointed by her father Frank Murkowski to serve out the rest of the latter's unexpired term when he resigned in December 2002 to become Governor of Alaska. Her main challenger was Democratic former governor Tony Knowles, her father's predecessor as governor. Murkowski won by a slight margin. As of 2022, Lisa Murkowski’s vote total of 149,773 votes remains the most raw votes she has ever received during any of her runs for the US Senate.

Background
Although Alaska is heavily Republican, popular opinion had swung against the Murkowski family because of a tax increase passed by Governor Frank Murkowski, Lisa Murkowski's father. In addition, many voters disapproved of apparent nepotism in the appointment of Lisa Murkowski to the Senate. Knowles, who as mentioned above preceded Frank Murkowski as governor, had enlisted extensive out-of-state support for his bid to take over Lisa Murkowski's Senate seat. However, veteran Republican Senator Ted Stevens taped advertisements warning Alaskans that electing a Democrat could result in fewer federal dollars for Alaska.

Candidates

 * Tony Knowles, businessman, former governor and former mayor of Anchorage
 * Theresa Obermeyer, former Anchorage school board member and 1996 Democratic U.S. Senate nominee
 * Don Wright, former president of the Alaska Federation of Natives and perennial candidate

Candidates

 * Jim Dore, aviation mechanic
 * Mike W. Miller, businessman, former state senator, former state representative, nominee for lieutenant governor in 1994 and younger brother of Terry Miller
 * Lisa Murkowski, incumbent U.S. Senator since 2002, formerly an Anchorage lawyer and member of the Alaska House
 * Wev Shea, former U.S. Attorney for Alaska

Major

 * Tony Knowles, former governor
 * Lisa Murkowski (R), incumbent U.S. Senator

Minor

 * Ted Gianoutsos (I), lobbyist and activist on ANWR and veterans issues
 * Scott Kohlhaas (L), party activist and perennial candidate
 * Marc Millican (I), aviator, U.S. Air Force veteran
 * Jerry Sanders (AI), businessman, former state representative
 * Jim Sykes (G), party activist and perennial candidate

Campaign
Lisa Murkowski had very low approval ratings as senator due to her father, Frank Murkowski, who at the time was the governor of Alaska with extremely low approval ratings himself. Former governor Tony Knowles ran against Murkowski. He ran as a Democrat who supported drilling in ANWR, in contrast to most Democrats. Alaska's senior senator, Ted Stevens, worked to rescue her campaign and help her maintain her seat.

Debates

 * Complete video of debate, October 26, 2004
 * Complete video of debate, October 28, 2004

Boroughs and census areas that flipped from Republican to Democratic

 * Aleutians West Census Area (largest city: Unalaska)
 * Bethel Census Area (largest city: Bethel)
 * Kusilvak Census Area (largest city: Hooper Bay)
 * Nome Census Area (largest city: Nome)
 * Dilingham Census Area (largest city: Dilingham)
 * Lake & Peninsula Borough (largest city: Newhalen)
 * North Slope Borough (largest city: Utqiaġvik)
 * Northwest Arctic Borough (largest city: Kotzebue)
 * Prince of Wales–Hyder Census Area (largest city: Craig)
 * Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area (largest city: Fort Yukon)
 * Juneau
 * Sitka
 * Hoonah–Angoon Census Area (largest town: Hoonah)
 * Yakutat
 * Petersburg
 * Skagway
 * Ketchikan Gateway Borough (largest city: Ketchikan)
 * Bristol Bay Borough (largest city: Naknek)