Alaska

Congressional Race

Senatorial Race

Population (1994): 606,000 (up 10.2% from 1990); 0.2% of U.S. total

Voting-age population: 429,000; 1994 turnout, 43%

Median age: 29.4 years

Median household income: $45,367 ($13,103 above U.S. median)

Unemployment: 7.9% (2.3% above U.S. average, March 1996)

Last presidential election:

Clinton (D): 30%

Bush (R): 40%

Perot (I): 28%

Congressional delegation: No Democrats, three Republicans

Alaska has the highest median household income in the U.S. and a land area that would stretch from Florida to California and north to Lake Superior. Its Congressmen, long stymied by a Democratic majority on the Hill, finally got their chance when the G.O.P. took control in 1994. They pushed through bills allowing exploration for oil in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge and lifting a ban on exporting state oil. Federal investment is vital here, but with the government controlling 60% of the state's land, it has bred resentment as well. Washington is a long way from the "Last Frontier," and state politicians would--sort of--like to keep it that way.

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

AllPolitics home page