2010 United States Senate election in Alaska

{{Short description|none}}  {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2021}} {{Infobox election | election_name = 2010 United States Senate election in Alaska | country = Alaska | type = presidential | ongoing = no | previous_election = 2004 United States Senate election in Alaska | previous_year = 2004 | next_election = 2016 United States Senate election in Alaska | next_year = 2016 | election_date = November 2, 2010 | image_size = x160px | image1 = Lisa Murkowski 1 (cropped).jpg | candidate1 = '''Lisa Murkowski''' (write-in) | party1 = Republican Party (United States) | popular_vote1 = '''101,091''' | percentage1 = '''39.49%''' | image2 = Joe Miller at Carlson Center, Fairbanks, Alaska - 201010.jpg | candidate2 = Joe Miller | party2 = Republican Party (United States) | popular_vote2 = 90,839 | percentage2 = 35.49% | image3 = Scott McAdams of Alaska.jpg | candidate3 = Scott McAdams | party3 = Democratic Party (United States) | popular_vote3 = 60,045 | percentage3 = 23.46% | map_image = 2010 United States Senate election in Alaska results map by borough and census area.svg | map_size = x200px | map_caption = Borough and census area results '''Murkowski:''' {{legend0|#87de87|40–50%}} {{legend0|#5fd35f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#37c837|60–70%}} {{legend0|#2ca02c|70–80%}} '''Miller:''' {{legend0|#ffc8cd|30–40%}} {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} '''McAdams:''' {{legend0|#bdd3ff|30–40%}} {{legend0|#a5b0ff|40–50%}} | title = U.S. Senator | before_election = Lisa Murkowski | before_party = Republican Party (United States) | after_election = Lisa Murkowski | after_party = Republican Party (United States) }} {{Elections in Alaska sidebar}}

The '''2010 United States Senate election in Alaska''' took place on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski was re-elected as a write-in candidate despite having been defeated in the Republican primary.

Primary elections were held on August 24, 2010. Sitka Mayor Scott McAdams became the Democratic nominee, while attorney and former federal magistrate Joe Miller defeated Murkowski to become the Republican nominee.<ref name="it's another">{{cite news| author =Sean Cockerham| title =It's another Tea Party win as Alaska's Murkowski concedes| date =August 31, 2010| url =http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/08/31/99960/alaska-absentee-count-looks-like.html| work =Anchorage Daily News| access-date =September 1, 2010| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20100901191632/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/08/31/99960/alaska-absentee-count-looks-like.html| archive-date =September 1, 2010| url-status =dead}}</ref><ref name="info">{{cite web | url=http://www.elections.alaska.gov/ei_primary.php | title=Primary Election Information | publisher=State of Alaska, Division of Elections | access-date=December 13, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203153504/http://www.elections.alaska.gov/ei_primary.php | archive-date=December 3, 2010 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> Miller was endorsed by the Tea Party movement and by former Governor Sarah Palin.<ref name=adn>{{cite web | url=http://www.adn.com/palin/story/752003.html | title=Palin to back Murkowski in 2010 | first=Sean | last=Cockerham | work=Anchorage Daily News | date=April 7, 2009 | access-date=May 28, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411032903/http://www.adn.com/palin/story/752003.html | archive-date=April 11, 2009 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> Murkowski announced that despite her defeat in the Republican primary, she would run in the general election as a write-in candidate.<ref name="write-in AP">{{cite news | first = Becky | last = Bohrer | title = Murkowski mounting write-in bid for Alaska Senate | date = September 18, 2010 | url = http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/sep/18/murkowski-mounts-write-bid | agency = Associated Press | access-date =November 1, 2010 | quote = Murkowski faces tough odds with her write-in candidacy. She has lost support from members within the Republican establishment, who are backing the Republican nominee, Joe Miller.}}</ref><ref name="bloomberg1">{{cite web | last=McCormick | first=John | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-18/murkowski-says-she-will-run-as-write-in-candidate-in-senate-race-in-alaska.html | title=Murkowski Says She Will Run as Write-In Candidate in Senate Race in Alaska | publisher=Bloomberg | date=September 18, 2010 | access-date=October 23, 2010}}</ref>

In the general election, Murkowski garnered more than 100,000 write-in votes. Miller challenged 8,000 of those votes.<ref name="triumphs">{{cite news | url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2013461497_murkowski18.html | title=Murkowski triumphs in Alaska Senate race: Alaska's Murkowski appears to be first write-in candidate to win Senate since 1954 | author=Seattle Times news services | publisher=The Seattle Times | date=November 17, 2010 | access-date=November 18, 2010}}</ref> The Associated Press and the Alaska GOP called the race in Murkowski's favor on November 17.<ref name="triumphs"/><ref name="AP calls">{{cite news | url=https://www.npr.org/2010/11/17/131391244/ap-murkowski-wins-alaska-senate-race | title=AP: Murkowski Wins Alaska Senate Race | author=AP staff reporter | agency=Associated Press | date=November 17, 2010 | publisher=NPR | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206151549/http://www.npr.org/2010/11/17/131391244/ap-murkowski-wins-alaska-senate-race | archive-date=December 6, 2010 }}</ref> Miller did not concede the race and instead filed legal challenges in federal and state court.<ref name="big spelling">{{cite web | url=http://www.slate.com/id/2274556 | title=Alaska's Big Spelling Test: How strong is Joe Miller's argument against the Leeza Markovsky vote? | author=Richard L. Hasen | work=Slate | date=November 11, 2010}}</ref>

On December 30, 2010, Alaska state officials certified Murkowski as the winner of the election. On December 31, Miller announced at a news conference in Anchorage that he was conceding the race.<ref name="Becky Bohrer AP">{{cite news | last=Bohrer | first=Becky | title=Miller says he's ending legal fight, conceding | url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110101/ap_on_el_se/us_alaska_senate | access-date=December 31, 2010 | agency=Associated Press | date=December 31, 2010}}</ref> Murkowski is only the second U.S. Senate candidate since the passage of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913 to win an election as a write-in candidate and defeat candidates listed on the ballot (the first was Strom Thurmond in 1954).<ref>{{Cite news|date = December 30, 2010|url = http://www.adn.com/2010/12/30/1625216/state-set-to-certify-alaska-senate.html|access-date = December 30, 2010|title = Murkowski certified Senate election winner: 2010 Alaska U.S. Senate election | adn.com|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110101192617/http://www.adn.com/2010/12/30/1625216/state-set-to-certify-alaska-senate.html|archive-date = January 1, 2011|url-status = dead|df = mdy-all}}</ref> Murkowski also became the first person since 1970 to win election to the Senate with under 40% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://editions.lib.umn.edu/smartpolitics/2016/10/11/murkowski-could-become-1st-us-senator-with-three-plurality-victories | title=Murkowski Could Become 1st US Senator with Three Plurality Victories | publisher=Smart Politics | date=October 11, 2016 | access-date=November 12, 2016}}</ref>

== Democratic-Libertarian-Independence primary == Alaska's primary elections at the time, from 2000 to 2020, had voters make a choice between a closed primary ballot for Republican candidates, open to voters that have declared themselves as Republicans, nonpartisan, or undeclared, and, since 2004, a combined open primary ballot for Democrats, Libertarians, the Alaska Independence Party, and all other declared or write-in candidates, open to voters of any declaration.

=== Candidates === * David Haase (L)<ref name=ak.us/> * Jacob Seth Kern (D)<ref name=ak.us>{{cite web | url=http://ltgov.state.ak.us/elections/ci_pg_cl_2010_prim.php | title=August 24, 2010 Primary Candidate List | access-date=June 16, 2010 | publisher=State of Alaska Division of Elections | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101022042908/http://ltgov.state.ak.us/elections/ci_pg_cl_2010_prim.php | archive-date=October 22, 2010 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> * Scott McAdams (D), mayor of Sitka<ref>{{cite web | url=http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2010/06/no-free-ride-for-murkowski.html | date=June 2, 2010 | title=Mayor files paper | access-date=June 2, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605222131/http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2010/06/no-free-ride-for-murkowski.html | archive-date=June 5, 2010 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> * Frank Vondersaar (D), perennial candidate<ref name=ap>{{cite news | url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/04/1611992/former-palin-ally-challenges-alaska.html | title=Former Palin ally challenges Alaska Sen. Murkowski for GOP support | date=May 4, 2010 | access-date=May 28, 2010 | first=Sean | last=Cockerham | agency=Associated Press}} {{Dead link | date=October 2010 | bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

=== Results === {{Election box begin no change | title = Primary results<ref name="Results">{{cite web | url=https://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/10PRIM/data/results.pdf| title=State of Alaska 2010 Primary Election August 24, 2010 Official Results | work=State of Alaska Division of Elections | date=August 25, 2010 | access-date=November 22, 2024}}</ref><ref name="lover of privacy"/> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Scott McAdams | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 18,035 | percentage = 51.41% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Jacob Seth Kern | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 6,913 | percentage = 19.71% }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = David Haase | party = Alaska Libertarian Party | votes = 5,793 | percentage = 16.49% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Frank Vondersaar | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 5,339 | percentage = 15.22% }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 36,080 | percentage = 100.00% }} {{Election box end}}

== Republican primary == Incumbent Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski faced a challenge from Joe Miller, a former U.S. magistrate judge supported by former Governor Sarah Palin,<ref>{{Cite news|agency=Associated Press|title=Murkowski Trails in Tight Alaska Primary|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/murkowski-trails-in-tight-alaska-primary/|access-date=January 8, 2021|publisher=CBS News|language=en-US|archive-date=January 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110111217/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/murkowski-trails-in-tight-alaska-primary/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/26/us/politics/26primaries.html|title=Murkowski of Alaska Locked in a Tight Senate Race|last=Cave|first=Damien|date=August 25, 2010|work=New York Times|quote=Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, whose family has held a decades-long grip on one of the state's two Senate seats, was in a surprisingly tight race Wednesday morning against an insurgent candidate, a Tea Party favorite who received the backing of Sarah Palin.|access-date=August 25, 2010|archive-date=August 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825200125/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/26/us/politics/26primaries.html|url-status=live}}</ref> in the August 24, 2010, Republican Party primary election. ''The New York Times'' described Murkowski as an establishment candidate and called Miller a "Tea Party upstart",<ref>{{cite news|author=William Yardley and Carl Hulse|title=In Alaska, Murkowski Trails Tea Party Upstart|date=August 25, 2010|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/26/us/politics/26primaries.html|work=New York Times|access-date=August 25, 2010}}</ref> and the race was viewed as a test of the power of the Tea Party movement.<ref name="a test">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/08/alaskas-senate-primary-a-test-of-tea-party-money/61977/|title=Alaska's Senate Primary: A Test of Tea Party Money|author=Chris Good|date=August 24, 2010|magazine=The Atlantic}}</ref><ref name="in close contest">{{cite news|author=AP staff reporter|title=Murkowski-Miller contest for Alaska Senate too close to call|date=August 24, 2010|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2010-08-25-alaska-senate_N.htm?csp=34news|access-date=August 25, 2010|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=USA Today}}</ref> The initial results showed Murkowski trailing Miller, 51–49%, with absentee ballots yet to be tallied.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/10PRIM/data/results.htm|title=State of Alaska 2010 Primary Election, August 24, 2010 Unofficial Results|date=August 25, 2010|work=Alaska Secretary of State|access-date=August 25, 2010|archive-date=April 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425163117/http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/10PRIM/data/results.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> After the first round of absentee ballots was counted on August 31, Murkowski conceded, saying that she did not believe that Miller's lead could be overcome in the next round of absentee vote counting.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/08/31/99960/alaska-absentee-count-looks-like.html|title=It's another Tea Party win as Alaska's Murkowski concedes|last=Cockerham|first=Sean|date=August 31, 2010|work=Anchorage Daily News|quote=Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski late Tuesday conceded the Republican primary election to Joe Miller, the Tea-Party backed challenger who maintained his Election Day lead after thousands of additional absentee and other ballots were counted through the day.|access-date=September 1, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901191632/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/08/31/99960/alaska-absentee-count-looks-like.html|archive-date=September 1, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="concession">{{Cite news|url=http://cbs2chicago.com/wireapnational/Murkowski.concedes.Alaska.2.1888296.html|title=Murkowski Concedes Alaska Primary Race|last=Joling|first=Dan|date=August 31, 2010|work=WBBM-TV|agency=Associated Press|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901180953/http://cbs2chicago.com/wireapnational/Murkowski.concedes.Alaska.2.1888296.html|archive-date=September 1, 2010}}</ref> Miller prevailed, receiving 55,878 votes to Murkowski's 53,872.<ref name="Results">{{cite web | url=https://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/10PRIM/data/results.pdf| title=State of Alaska 2010 Primary Election August 24, 2010 Official Results | work=State of Alaska Division of Elections | date=August 25, 2010 | access-date=November 22, 2024}}</ref>

=== Candidates === * Lisa Murkowski, incumbent U.S. Senator since 2002<ref name=ap/> * Joe Miller, former U.S. magistrate judge<ref name=miller>{{cite web | url=http://joemiller.us | title=Joe Miller for Senate | publisher=Joemiller.us | access-date=November 3, 2010}}</ref>

=== Endorsements === {{Endorsements box | columns = 2 | title = List of Lisa Murkowski endorsements<ref>{{cite web | url=http://lisamurkowski.com/main/about/endorsements | title=List of Endorsements « Lisa Murkowski | publisher=Lisamurkowski.com | access-date=October 23, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101023142445/http://lisamurkowski.com/main/about/endorsements/ | archive-date=October 23, 2010 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> | list = '''U.S. Senators''' * Former Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska

'''State legislators''' * State Representative Alan Austerman (R-Kodiak) * State Senator Con Bunde (R-Anchorage) * State Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Chenault (R-Nikiski, Kenai) * State Representative Anna Fairclough (R-Eagle River) * Former State Speaker of the House Rep. John Harris (R-Valdez) * State Representative Mike Hawker (R-Anchorage, Girdwood, Hope) * State Senator Charlie Huggins (R-Mat-Su, Chugiak, Peters Creek) * State Representative Kyle Johansen (R-Ketchikan) * State Representative Craig Johnson (R-Anchorage) * State Senator Lesil McGuire (R-Anchorage) * State Senator Kevin Meyer (R-Anchorage) * State Representative Charisse Millett (R-Anchorage) * State Representative Cathy Muñoz (R-Juneau, Mendenhall Valley) * State Representative Jay Ramras (R-Fairbanks) * State Representative Paul Seaton (R-Homer) * State Senator Bert Stedman (R-Sitka) * Senate President Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak) * State Representative Bill Stoltze (R-Chugiak, Peters Creek, Mat-Su) * State Representative Bill Thomas (R-Haines, Cordova, SE Islands) * State Senator Tom Wagoner (R-Kenai, Soldotna) * State Representative Peggy Wilson (R-Wrangell, Sitka, Petersburg)

'''Local officials''' * Mayor Jim Kallander of Cordova, Alaska * Mayor of Shirley Marquardt of Unalaska, Alaska * Mayor Lew Williams III of Ketchikan, Alaska

'''Individuals''' * Chris W. Cox, Chairman of the NRA Political Victory Fund

'''Organizations''' * Alaska Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood * Anchorage Young Republicans * Marine Conservation Alliance * NANA Regional Corporation, Inc. * National Education Association * NRA Political Victory Fund<ref>{{cite web |title=NRA-PVF Endorses Lisa Murkowski for U.S. Senate in Alaska's Republican Primary Election |url=https://www.nrapvf.org/articles/20100728/nra-pvf-endorses-lisa-murkowski-for-us-senate-in-alaska-s-republican-primary-election |website=nrapvf.org |publisher=NRA-PVF |access-date=19 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812204311/https://www.nrapvf.org/articles/20100728/nra-pvf-endorses-lisa-murkowski-for-us-senate-in-alaska-s-republican-primary-election |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |language=en-US |date=July 28, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> * United Fishermen of Alaska }}

{{Endorsements box | columns = 2 | title = List of Joe Miller endorsements<ref>{{cite web | url=http://joemiller.us/endorsements | title=Joe Miller for Senate – Endorsements | publisher=Joemiller.us | date=October 28, 2010 | access-date=November 3, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104201901/http://joemiller.us/endorsements | archive-date=November 4, 2010 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> | list = '''U.S. Senators''' * Senator John Cornyn of Texas * Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina * Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma

'''U.S. Representatives''' * Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota

'''Governors''' * Former Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas * Former Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska

'''State officials''' * Former Lieutenant Governor Jack Coghill of Alaska

'''State legislators''' * State Senator John Coghill (R-North Pole) * State Senator Fred Dyson (R-Eagle River) * State Representative Wes Keller (R-Wasilla) * State Representative Tammie Wilson (R-North Pole)

'''Local officials''' * Former Mayor Dale Bagley of Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska * Former Mayor Edna Armstrong DeVries of Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska

'''Individuals''' * Liz Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney * Erick Erickson, conservative blogger and managing editor of RedState * Laura Ingraham, host of the conservative ''The Laura Ingraham Show'' radio talk-show * Alan Keyes, conservative political activist, author, former diplomat and perennial candidate * Lars Larson, host of the conservative ''The Lars Larson Show'' radio talk-show * Mark Levin, host of the conservative ''The Mark Levin Show'' radio talk-show * Todd Palin, former First Gentleman of Alaska

'''Organizations''' * Alaska Right to Life * Can-Do Conservatives of America * Club for Growth * Conservative Patriots Group * Defundit.org * FreedomWorks * Kenai Peninsula Tea Party Patriots * National Right to Life Political Action Committee * RedState * Repeal ObamaCare PAC * Tea Party Express }}

=== Polling === {| class="wikitable"

|- valign=bottom ! Poll source ! Dates administered ! Lisa Murkowski ! Joe Miller

|- |Moore Research<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://community.adn.com/sites/community.adn.com/files/Moorepoll.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100911070036/http://community.adn.com/sites/community.adn.com/files/Moorepoll.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2010-09-11|title=Moore Research}}</ref> | July 25, 2010 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | '''62%''' | 30%

=== Results === thumb|Results by borough: {{collapsible list | title = {{legend|#E27F7F|Miller}} | {{legend|#E27F7F|Miller—50–60%}} | {{legend|#D75D5D|Miller—60–70%}} }} {{collapsible list | title = {{legend|#FF9A50|Murkowski}} | {{legend|#FF9A50|Murkowski—50–60%}} | {{legend|#EE8E50|Murkowski—60–70%}} | {{legend|#D69850|Murkowski—70–80%}} }} {{Election box begin no change | title = Republican primary results<ref name="Results"/><ref name="lover of privacy">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/04/us/politics/04alaska.html?_r=1 | title=Alaska Winner, Lover of Privacy, Loses His Own | first=William | last=Yardley | date=September 3, 2010 | newspaper=The New York Times}} (voter turnout for the primary)</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Joe Miller | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 55,878 | percentage = 50.91% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Lisa Murkowski (incumbent) | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 53,872 | percentage = 49.09% }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 109,750 | percentage = 100.00% }} {{Election box end}}

== General election ==

=== Candidates === * Timothy Carter (I)<ref name=ak.us2>{{cite web | url=http://ltgov.state.ak.us/elections/ci_pg_cl_2010_genr.php | title=November 2, 2010 General Election Candidate List | access-date=June 16, 2010 | publisher=State of Alaska Division of Elections | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616074357/http://ltgov.state.ak.us/elections/ci_pg_cl_2010_genr.php | archive-date=June 16, 2010 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> * Ted Gianoutsos (I)<ref name=ak.us2/> * David Haase (L), nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2008<ref name="ak.us"/> * Scott McAdams (D), Mayor of Sitka * Joe Miller (R), former U.S. magistrate judge<ref name=miller/> * Lisa Murkowski (R; write-in), incumbent U.S. Senator

=== Campaign === After Lisa Murkowski conceded the Republican primary to Joe Miller, Scott McAdams raised over $128,000 through ActBlue, and a private fundraiser at the home of Alaskan State Senator Hollis French raised about $19,000.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

The Libertarian Party floated the possibility of offering Murkowski its nomination.<ref>{{cite news | first = Michael A. | last = Memoli | title = Libertarians an option for Murkowski | date = August 27, 2010 | url = http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2012734997_alaska27.html | work = Seattle Times | access-date =August 28, 2010 | quote = The state Libertarian Party told the Anchorage Daily News that it was open to the possibility of nominating Murkowski as a third-party candidate, a notion that her campaign is not embracing but has not ruled out.}}</ref> On August 29, 2010, however, the executive board of the state Libertarian Party voted not to consider allowing Murkowski on its ticket for the U.S. Senate race.<ref name="no decision">{{cite web | first=Sean | last=Cockerham | url=http://www.adn.com/2010/09/07/1443217/libertarians-cool-to-senate-run.html | title=Murkowski: No decision was made on write-in option; Despite rumors, her camp says it's not a done deal | publisher=The Anchorage Daily News | date=September 11, 2010 | access-date=October 23, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610144416/http://www.adn.com/2010/09/07/1443217/libertarians-cool-to-senate-run.html | archive-date=June 10, 2011 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> When asked about a write-in candidacy at that time, she said it was "high risk".<ref name="no decision"/> By September 7 though, she said that she was weighing the option of mounting a write-in campaign.<ref>{{cite web | author=Sean Cockerham | url=http://www.adn.com/2010/09/07/1443217/libertarians-cool-to-senate-run.html | title=Libertarians cool to Murkowski candidacy; ALTERNATIVE: Senator could wage a campaign as a write-in | publisher=The Anchorage Daily News | date=September 8, 2010 | access-date=October 23, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610144416/http://www.adn.com/2010/09/07/1443217/libertarians-cool-to-senate-run.html | archive-date=June 10, 2011 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> On September 13, Libertarian candidate David Haase reiterated that he would not stand down and let Murkowski replace him on the ballot.<ref>{{cite web | last=Conroy | first=Scott | url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/09/13/in_blow_to_murkowski_ak_libertarian_nominee_will_stay_on_ballot_107127.html | title=Real Clear Politics | publisher=Real Clear Politics | date=September 13, 2010 | access-date=October 23, 2010}}</ref> Murkowski announced on September 17 that she would enter the general election contest as a write-in candidate, saying she had agonized over the decision, but had been encouraged to run by many voters.<ref name="Make history ADN">{{cite web | author=Sean Cockerham and Erika Bolstad | url=http://www.adn.com/2010/09/17/1459578/murkowski-expected-to-say-yes.html | title=Murkowski says 'Let's Make History' | publisher=The Anchorage Daily News | date=September 18, 2010 | access-date=October 23, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100921104322/http://www.adn.com/2010/09/17/1459578/murkowski-expected-to-say-yes.html | archive-date=September 21, 2010 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Miller received negative press in mid-October 2010 when his campaign's security guards made a private arrest of a journalist who was persistently questioning Miller about his record as a government employee. Tony Hopfinger, of the ''Alaska Dispatch'', was detained and handcuffed until Anchorage police arrived and released him following a townhall event featuring Miller. No charges were filed.<ref name=Handcuffed>{{cite news | url=http://www.adn.com/2010/10/17/1506223/miller-security-guards-handcuff.html | title=Miller security guards handcuff editor | date=October 18, 2010 | first=Richard | last=Mauer | work=Anchorage Daily News | access-date=October 18, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019014343/http://www.adn.com/2010/10/17/1506223/miller-security-guards-handcuff.html | archive-date=October 19, 2010 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> Though the campaign event was open to the general public and held at a public school, the security firm said it had detained the journalist because he had been trespassing and had shoved a man while attempting to question Miller.<ref name=Handcuffed />

In an October 18, 2010 interview, Miller admitted that he had been disciplined for an ethics violation while serving as an assistant attorney for the Fairbanks North Star Borough;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://alaskapublic.org/2010/10/19/miller-speaks-with-cnn-about-disciplinary-action/ |website=alaskapublic.org|last=Edge|first=Josh| title=Miller Speaks with CNN About Disciplinary Action |date=October 19, 2010}}</ref> he characterized the offense as "petty".<ref name="petty">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-miller-admits-he-violated-ethics-policy-conducted-private-polling-on-the-job/|title=Joe Miller Admits He Violated Ethics Policy, Conducted Private Polling on the Job|website=cbsnews.com|last=Madison|first=Lucy|date=October 25, 2010}}</ref> Miller later said that he had used government-owned computers to engage in private polling activity during his lunch hour. Miller added that he had been docked three days' pay due to his conduct.<ref name="petty"/> Miller's personnel file showed that he used coworkers' computers to vote multiple times in an online poll.<ref name="tampering">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/27/tea-party-senate-scandal|title=Tea Party Senate candidate embroiled in computer tampering scandal|website=theguardian.com|last=MacAskill |first=Ewen|date=October 27, 2010}}</ref> Miller then cleared the caches on his coworkers' computers in an attempt to hide what he had done.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna39859764|title=Records: GOP's Miller lied about computer use |website=nbcnews.com|date=October 26, 2010}}</ref> Miller initially lied about his computer misuse, but later acknowledged his wrongdoing and was suspended. On October 27, ''The Guardian'' reported that Sarah Palin and other well-known conservatives were scheduled to "rush to the aid of the beleaguered Tea Party-backed candidate for the US Senate, Joe Miller, after newly released documents reveal he lied about a computer tampering scandal". ''The Guardian'' added that "the row has created alarm about the election chances of Miller".<ref name="tampering" />

On October 20, during early voting, a voter in Homer photographed a list of write-in candidates that was posted inside a voting booth,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://homernews.com/stories/102010/news_wic.shtml | title=Write-in candidate list mistakenly posted in city voting booths | publisher=Homer News | date=October 20, 2010 | access-date=October 28, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024013827/http://homernews.com/stories/102010/news_wic.shtml | archive-date=October 24, 2010 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> which raised the issue of whether the state should be posting, or even providing such a list. A lawsuit was filed alleging that the Alaska Division of Elections was violating AAC, 25.070, which reads in part: "Information regarding a write-in candidate may not be discussed, exhibited or provided at the polling place, or within 200 feet of any entrance to the polling place, on election day."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.alaskademocrats.org/component/content/article/42-rokstories/585-election-problems-mount | title=ADP sues DOE ''Alaska Democratic Party website, 10-25-2010'' | publisher=Alaskademocrats.org | date=October 25, 2010 | access-date=November 3, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027083656/http://www.alaskademocrats.org/component/content/article/42-rokstories/585-election-problems-mount | archive-date=October 27, 2010 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> Both Republican and Democratic spokespersons decried the lists as electioneering on behalf of Murkowski; representatives of the Division of Elections maintained that the lists were intended merely to assist voters.<ref>{{cite news | first=Dan | last=Joling | agency=Associated Press | url=http://www.adn.com/2010/10/25/1517703/dems-republicans-to-sue-over-write.html | title=Judge wants more info in Alaska election lawsuit | work=Anchorage Daily News | date=October 25, 2010 | access-date=November 3, 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028132426/http://www.adn.com/2010/10/25/1517703/dems-republicans-to-sue-over-write.html | archive-date=October 28, 2010 }}</ref> On October 27, a judge issued a restraining order barring the lists, noting in his decision "If it were important 'assistance' for the Division to provide voters with lists of write-in candidates, then the Division was asleep at the switch for the past 50 years, the Division first developed the need for a write-in candidate list 12 days ago."<ref>{{cite web | author=DAN JOLING Associated Press Writer | url=http://www.adn.com/2010/10/27/1521273/judge-blocks-distribution-of-write.html | title=Alaska judge blocks distribution of write-in names ''Dan Joling Associated Press/Anchorage Daily News 10-27-2010'' | publisher=Adn.com | date=October 27, 2010 | access-date=November 3, 2010}}{{dead link | date=December 2010}}</ref> Later on the same day, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that the lists could be distributed to those who asked for them, but that any ballots cast by voters based on information on the lists be "segregated". The Division of Elections responded that they had neither the manpower nor the time to implement such a system by Election Day. By the deadline for registering as a write-in candidate, more than 150 Alaskans had submitted their names as candidates for the U.S. Senate seat, encouraged by an Anchorage talk radio host.<ref name="on write-in"/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://aprn.org/2010/10/29/no-decision-on-write-in-lists-yet | title=No Decision on Write-In Lists Yet ''Ellen Lockyer KSKA/APRN 10-29-2010'' | publisher=Aprn.org | date=October 29, 2010 | access-date=November 3, 2010}}</ref>

=== Predictions === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! Source ! Ranking ! As of |- | Cook Political Report<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://cookpolitical.com/senate | title=Senate | publisher=Cook Political Report | access-date=October 26, 2010}}</ref> | {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}} | October 26, 2010 |- | Rothenberg<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://rothenbergpoliticalreport.com/ratings/senate | title=Senate Ratings | publisher=Rothenberg Political Report | access-date=October 26, 2010}}</ref> | {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}} | October 22, 2010 |- | RealClearPolitics<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2010/senate/2010_elections_senate_map.html | title=Battle for the Senate | publisher=RealClearPolitics | access-date=October 26, 2010}}</ref> | {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}} | October 26, 2010 |- | Sabato's Crystal Ball<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/category/2010-senate | title=2010 Senate Ratings | publisher=Sabato's Crystal Ball | access-date=October 26, 2010 | archive-date=October 28, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028092918/http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/category/2010-senate/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> | {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}} | October 21, 2010

|- | CQ Politics<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-senate | title=Race Ratings Chart: Senate | publisher=CQ Politics | access-date=October 26, 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028234525/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-senate | archive-date=October 28, 2010 }}</ref> | {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}} | October 26, 2010 |}

=== Polling === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|- valign=bottom ! Poll source ! Date(s) administered ! Joe Miller (R) ! Lisa Murkowski (R) {{efn|Lisa Murkowski lost the Republican primary, but ran as a Republican during her write-in bid.}} ! Scott McAdams (D) ! Lead

|- |Rasmussen Reports<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rasmussenreports.com:443/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/alaska/toplines/toplines_alaska_senate_september_19_2010|title=Toplines - Alaska Senate - September 19, 2010 - Rasmussen Reports®|website=www.rasmussenreports.com}}</ref> | September 19, 2010 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | '''42%''' | 27% | 25% | {{Party shading/Republican}} | Miller +15 |- |Moore Research<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/38480785/AK-Sen-Ivan-Moore|title=AK-Sen Ivan Moore | PDF | Joe Miller (Alaska Politician) | Politics Of The United States|website=Scribd}}</ref> | September 23–27, 2010 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | '''43%''' | 18% | 28% | {{Party shading/Republican}} | Miller +15 |- |CNN/Time/Opinion Research<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/09/29/topstate4.pdf|title=CNN/Time/Opinion Research}}</ref> | September 24–28, 2010 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | '''38%''' | 36% | 22% | {{Party shading/Republican}} | Miller +2 |- |Public Policy Polling<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/12/909597/-AK-Sen-Gov:-Split-GOP-gives-Dems-legit-pickup-opportunity|title=AK-Sen/Gov: Split GOP gives Dems legit pickup opportunity|website=Daily Kos}}</ref> | October 9–10, 2010 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | ''' 35%''' | 33% | 26% | {{Party shading/Republican}} | Miller +2 |- |CNN/Time/Opinion Research<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/10/20/topstate7.pdf|title=CNN/Time/Opinion Research}}</ref> | October 15–19, 2010 | '''37%''' | '''37%''' | 23% | Tie |- |Public Policy Polling<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_AK_1031503.pdf|title=Public Policy Polling}}</ref> | October 30–31, 2010 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | ''' 37%''' | 30% | 30% | {{Party shading/Republican}} | Miller +7 |}

====Note==== {{notelist}} {{hidden begin | toggle=left | title=Hypothetical polling numbers in a two-way race between Joe Miller (R) and Scott McAdams (D)}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|- valign=bottom ! Poll source ! Dates administered ! Joe Miller (R) ! Scott McAdams (D)

|- |Public Policy Polling<ref name="Public Policy Polling">{{Cite web|url=http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_AK_829.pdf|title=Public Policy Polling}}</ref> | August 27–28, 2010 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | '''47%''' | 39%

|- |Basswood Research<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/08/nrsc_survey_sho.php|title=NRSC Survey Shows Miller Over 50 - Hotline On Call|date=September 1, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901035744/http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/08/nrsc_survey_sho.php |archive-date=September 1, 2010 }}</ref> | August 28–29, 2010 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | '''52%''' | 36%

|} {{hidden end}} {{hidden begin | toggle=left | title=Hypothetical polling numbers with Lisa Murkowski as a Libertarian}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|- valign=bottom ! Poll source ! Dates administered ! Joe Miller (R) ! Lisa Murkowski (L) ! Scott McAdams (D)

|- |Public Policy Polling<ref name="Public Policy Polling"/> | August 27–28, 2010 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | '''38%''' | 34% | 22%

|- |Dittman Research<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.andrewhalcro.com/files/Post-primary%20preliminary%20results%20n383.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224125919/http://www.andrewhalcro.com/files/Post-primary%20preliminary%20results%20n383.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2010-12-24|title=Dittman Research}}</ref> | August 30, 2010 | 31% | {{Party shading/Libertarian}} | '''37%''' | 19%

|} * It was announced on 9/13/10 that Murkowski cannot run on the Libertarian ticket.<ref>{{cite web | last=Conroy | first=Scott | url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/09/13/in_blow_to_murkowski_ak_libertarian_nominee_will_stay_on_ballot_107127.html | title=In Blow to Murkowski, Alaska Libertarian Nominee Will Stay on Ballot | publisher=RealClearPolitics | date=September 13, 2010 | access-date=October 23, 2010}}</ref> {{hidden end}}

=== Fundraising === {| class="wikitable sortable"

|- ! Candidate (party) ! Receipts ! Disbursements ! Cash on hand ! Debt

|- | {{Party shading/Republican}} | Joe Miller (R) | $1,980,296 | $1,331,859 | $647,934 | $341

|- | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Scott McAdams (D) | $861,121 | $587,639 | $273,480 | $0

|- | {{Party shading/Republican}} | Lisa Murkowski (R-Write-in) | $3,416,929 | $3,005,107 | $773,826 | $0

|- | colspan=5 | Source: Federal Election Commission<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/HSProcessCandList.do?category=stateS_all&stateName=AK&election_yr=2010 | title=2010 House and Senate Campaign Finance for Alaska | publisher=fec.gov | access-date=September 29, 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

=== Post-election day events === On Election Day, the write-in ballots were counted, but not examined: determining for which candidate they were cast was deferred. After election officials tabulated 27,000 additional absentee and early ballots, Miller had won 35 percent of the vote while forty percent of the ballots cast were write-ins,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/11/miller-gaining-ground-in-alaska-044918 | title=Miller gaining ground in Alaska | author= Shira Toeplitz | publisher=Politico | date=November 9, 2010}}</ref> which required a hand count to see what names were on them.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/11/murky-miller-sues-over-spelling-044928 | title=Murky? Miller sues over spelling | website=Politico | date=November 10, 2010 | access-date=September 29, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/09/AR2010110907062_2.html | title=Write-in ballot count begins Wednesday in Alaska's Senate race | date=November 10, 2010 | newspaper=The Washington Post | language=en-US | issn=0190-8286 | access-date=September 29, 2016}}</ref>

==== Write-in count ==== The total number of write-in votes statewide was counted first. Then, all the write-in ballots were sent to Juneau to the Division of Elections to be individually examined to see what names were written on them.<ref name="on write-in">{{cite web | url=http://aprn.org/2010/11/02/election-night-2010-division-of-elections-on-write-in-votes | title=Election Night 2010: Division of Elections on Write-In Votes | publisher=APRN | date=November 2, 2010}}</ref>

Alaska election officials said they were counting write-in ballots with misspellings if the names written in were phonetic to Murkowski, claiming that Alaska case law supports this practice.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.adn.com/2010/11/16/1557882/murkowski-widens-lead-over-miller.html#ixzz15YacKx00 | title=Murkowski Alaska-bound as vote counting winds down | first=Becky | last=Boehrer | date=November 17, 2010 | agency=Associated Press | work=Anchorage Daily News }}{{dead link | date=May 2016 | bot=medic}}{{cbignore | bot=medic}}</ref> The Miller campaign had observers present who challenged ballots which misspelled "Murkowski", or which included the word "Republican" next to Murkowski's name. The ''Anchorage Daily News'' noted on November 11 that the bulk of the challenged ballots contained misspellings but examples were not hard to find of challenged ballots that appeared to be "spelled accurately and looked to be filled out properly".<ref name=confident>{{cite news | url=http://www.adn.com/2010/11/11/1550305/murkowski-confident-as-tally-grows.html | title=Murkowski confident as write-in tally for Senate continues | first=Sean | last=Cockerham | work=Anchorage Daily News | date=December 11, 2010 | access-date=November 12, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101115021530/http://www.adn.com/2010/11/11/1550305/murkowski-confident-as-tally-grows.html | archive-date=November 15, 2010 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref>

After several days of counting, the Division of Elections showed Murkowski with a lead of some 1,700 votes over Miller, with about 8,000 write-in votes yet to be counted, and a trend of counting 97 percent of the write-ins as for Murkowski.<ref name=count/> Murkowski's campaign shied away from declaring a victory before the count was finished.<ref name=count>{{Cite web|url=http://www.adn.com/2010/11/15/1555926/murkowski-passes-miller-in-vote.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120130508/http://www.adn.com/2010/11/15/1555926/murkowski-passes-miller-in-vote.html|url-status=dead|title=Murkowski passes Miller in vote count ''Sean Cockerham, Anchorage Daily News 11-15-2010''|archivedate=November 20, 2010}}</ref> As of November 17, (the last day of the hand count), the Division of Elections showed Murkowski having a lead of over 10,000 votes, meaning that even if all the 8,000 challenged ballots were discounted, Murkowski would still lead by about 2,200 votes. The Miller campaign then demanded a hand recount of the entire election, claiming that as Murkowski's votes were all verified by visual inspection, Miller should get the same opportunity. The Division of Election officials responded that any recount of non-write-in votes would not be done by hand, but would be done using optical scanners.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.adn.com/2010/11/16/1557873/murkowskis-lead-more-than-10000.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120130540/http://www.adn.com/2010/11/16/1557873/murkowskis-lead-more-than-10000.html|url-status=dead|title=Miller calls for hand recount of votes as Murkowski lead grows ''Sean Cockerham, Anchorage Daily News, 11-17-2010''|archivedate=November 20, 2010}}</ref>

==== Lawsuits ==== {{Main|Miller v. Campbell}} Miller filed a federal lawsuit on November 9, 2010, seeking to have write-in ballots that contained spelling and other errors from being counted toward Murkowski's total and a seeking preliminary injunction to prevent the counting of the write-in votes from even beginning.<ref name="big spelling"/><ref name="seeks to stop">{{cite news | title=Miller seeks to stop Alaska Senate election certification | author=Dan Joling | agency=Associated Press | newspaper=Fairbanks Daily News Miner | date=November 19, 2010 | url=http://www.newsminer.com/view/full_story/10370038/article-Miller-seeks-to-stop-Alaska-Senate-election-certification- | access-date=December 13, 2010 | archive-date=November 29, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129013339/http://www.newsminer.com/view/full_story/10370038/article-Miller-seeks-to-stop-Alaska-Senate-election-certification- | url-status=dead }}</ref> He claimed that he had a federal case because State election officials were violating the Elections Clause of the U.S. Constitution and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment by using a voter intent standard that allowed misspelled write-in votes to count.<ref name="in state court">{{cite news | title=Miller files vote-count lawsuit in Alaska state court | author=Rachel D'Oro | agency=Associated Press | publisher=Fairbanks Daily News Miner | date=November 22, 2010}}</ref> The federal court allowed the counting to proceed as the challenged ballots were segregated from the others and could be re-examined later, if necessary.<ref name="seeks to stop"/> After hearing motions and arguments from both sides, the federal court abstained from hearing the case, ruling that the dispute could be resolved by the State courts by reference to State law.<ref name="in state court"/> The federal court kept the case in its docket in the event that federal issues still remained after the State courts' determination.<ref name="in state court"/> The federal court also put a halt to the certification of the election pending rulings on Miller's lawsuits. Miller then filed suit in State court, repeating the claims he had previously made, and adding allegations of vote fraud and bias.<ref name="despite">{{cite news | first=Sandyha | last=Somashekhar | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/27/AR2010112702896.html | title=Despite Alaska Senate race results, Joe Miller presses on in principle | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=November 27, 2010 | access-date=November 28, 2010}}</ref>

On December 10, the Alaska Superior Court rejected all of Miller's claims as contrary to State statute and case law, and said the fraud claims were unsubstantiated.<ref name="judge rules">{{cite news | url=http://www.adn.com/2010/12/10/1598722/judge-rules-against-miller-in.html | title=Judge rules against Miller in Senate suit | first=Sean | last=Cockerham | newspaper=Anchorage Daily News | date=December 10, 2010 | access-date=December 13, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214085724/http://www.adn.com/2010/12/10/1598722/judge-rules-against-miller-in.html | archive-date=December 14, 2010 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="court rejects">{{cite news | url=http://www.juneaublogger.com/updates/?p=6664 | title=Court rejects Miller's election challenge | first=Pat | last=Forgey | newspaper=Juneau Empire | date=December 10, 2010 | access-date=December 13, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713125154/http://www.juneaublogger.com/updates/?p=6664 | archive-date=July 13, 2011 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> Miller then appealed the Superior Court ruling to the Alaska Supreme Court, citing a provision in the Alaska election statute that says there shall be "no exceptions" to the rules for counting ballots, and that therefore, all ballots with misspellings or other deviations should be thrown out. After oral arguments were heard on December 17,<ref name="appeals to supreme">{{cite news | url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/david-catanese/2010/12/miller-appeals-to-supreme-court-031421 | title=Miller appeals to Supreme Court | first=David | last=Catanese | date=December 13, 2010 | work=Politico}}</ref> on December 22, the Alaska Supreme Court upheld the lower court's ruling dismissing Miller's claims.<ref>{{cite news | title=Alaska high court throws out Miller claims | url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101222/ap_on_el_se/us_alaska_senate | access-date=December 22, 2010 | agency=Associated Press | date=December 22, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Miller v Treadwell | url=http://media.adn.com/smedia/2010/12/22/13/MillervTreadwell_decision.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf | publisher=THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF ALASKA | access-date=December 23, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224092853/http://media.adn.com/smedia/2010/12/22/13/MillervTreadwell_decision.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 24, 2010}}</ref> On December 26, Miller announced that he would be withdrawing his opposition for Murkowski's Senate certification, but would continue pursuing his federal case.<ref>{{cite web | title=Miller won't oppose certification of Senate race | url=http://www.ktuu.com/news/ktuu-miller-wont-oppose-senate-certification-112610,0,1424812.story | publisher=KTUU-TV | access-date=December 27, 2010 | date=December 26, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604061014/http://www.ktuu.com/news/ktuu-miller-wont-oppose-senate-certification-112610,0,1424812.story | archive-date=June 4, 2013 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref>

====Certification==== On December 30, 2010, Alaska state officials certified Murkowski as the winner of the general election, making her the first U.S. Senate candidate to win election via write-in since Strom Thurmond in 1954.<ref>{{Cite news|date=December 30, 2010|url=http://www.adn.com/2010/12/30/1625216/state-set-to-certify-alaska-senate.html|access-date=December 30, 2010|title=Murkowski certified Senate election winner|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101192617/http://www.adn.com/2010/12/30/1625216/state-set-to-certify-alaska-senate.html|archive-date=January 1, 2011}}</ref>

On December 31, Miller announced at a news conference in Anchorage that he was conceding the election.<ref name="Becky Bohrer AP"/>

=== Results === {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%" |- ! colspan=4 | Write-in totals (100% precincts reporting)<ref name=wivotes>{{cite web | url=https://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/10GENR/data/resultsWI.htm | title=State of Alaska 2010 General Election Official Write-In Results | date=December 28, 2010 | access-date=November 11, 2014}}</ref> |- ! style="width: 25em" |Candidate ! style="width: 5em" |Votes ! style="width: 7em" |Percentage

|- | ''Lisa Murkowski (unchallenged)'' | style="text-align:right" | 92,931 | style="text-align:right" | 89.52%

|- | ''Lisa Murkowski (challenged, included in candidate total)'' | style="text-align:right" | 8,160 | style="text-align:right" | 7.86%

|- | '''Lisa Murkowski (total of unchallenged votes and votes that were challenged and included in candidate total)''' | style="text-align:right" | '''101,091''' | style="text-align:right" | '''97.39%'''

|- | Lisa Murkowski (challenged, not included in candidate total) | style="text-align:right" | 2,035 | style="text-align:right" | 1.96%

|- | Misc. names | style="text-align:right" | 602 | style="text-align:right" | 0.58%

|- | Joe Miller | style="text-align:right" | 21 | style="text-align:right" | 0.02%

|- | Scott McAdams | style="text-align:right" | 8 | style="text-align:right" | 0.01%

|- | All other write-in candidates | style="text-align:right" | 53 | style="text-align:right" | 0.05%

|- style="background:#eee; text-align:right" || '''Totals''' || '''103,810''' || '''100%'''

{{Election box begin | title = Final/certified general election results<ref name=wivotes/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/10GENR/data/results.htm | title=State of Alaska 2010 General Election November 2, 2010 Official Results | publisher=elections.alaska.gov | date=December 28, 2010 | access-date=November 11, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820201516/http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/10GENR/data/results.htm | archive-date=August 20, 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=370474 | title=AK US Senate | publisher=Our Campaigns | date=November 27, 2012 | access-date=November 11, 2014}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link | candidate = {{nowrap|Lisa Murkowski (incumbent, write-in)}} | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 101,091 | percentage = 39.49% | change = N/A }} {{Election box candidate with party link | candidate = Joe Miller | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 90,839 | percentage = 35.49% | change = −13.09% }} {{Election box candidate with party link | candidate = Scott McAdams | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 60,045 | percentage = 23.46% | change = −22.09% }} {{Election box candidate with party link | candidate = David Haase | party = Libertarian Party (United States) | votes = 1,459 | percentage = 0.57% | change = +0.17% }} {{Election box candidate with party link | candidate = Timothy Carter | party = Independent | votes = 927 | percentage = 0.36% | change = N/A }} {{Election box candidate with party link | candidate = Ted Gianoutsos | party = Independent | votes = 458 | percentage = 0.18% | change = −0.06% }} {{Election box total | votes = 255,962 | percentage = 100.0% }} {{Election box hold with party link no swing | winner = Republican Party (United States) }} {{Election box end}}

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * [http://www.elections.alaska.gov Alaska Division of Elections] * [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=370474 Alaska U.S. Senate] from OurCampaigns.com * [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=AKS2&cycle=2010 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets  * [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2010/senate/2010_alaska_senate_race.html 2010 Alaska Senate Race] from Real Clear Politics * [https://archive.today/20130120044320/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=senate-2010-AK 2010 Alaska Senate Race] from CQ Politics * [http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/senate/alaska Race profile] from ''The New York Times'' '''Debates''' * [http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/295116-1 Alaska Senate Republican Primary Debate], C-SPAN, August 19, 2010 '''Official campaign websites''' * [https://web.archive.org/web/20101030095910/http://www.davidforalaska.com/ Fredrick "David" Haase for U.S. Senate] * [http://www.lisamurkowski.com Lisa Murkowski for U.S. Senate]

Category:2010 Alaska elections Alaska 2010