Mike Dunleavy (politician)
Michael James Dunleavy (born May 5, 1961) is an American educator and politician serving since 2018 as the 12th governor of Alaska. A Republican, he was a member of the Alaska Senate from 2013 to 2018. He defeated former U.S. senator Mark Begich in the 2018 gubernatorial election after incumbent governor Bill Walker dropped out of the race. He was reelected in 2022.
Mike Dunleavy
Redistricted
District D (2013–2015)
Rose Newlin
3
Early life, education, and teaching career[edit]
Dunleavy was born and raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Scranton Central High School in 1979, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at Misericordia University in 1983.[1] In 1983, he moved to Alaska and his first job was at a logging camp in Southeast Alaska.[2] Later, Dunleavy earned his master's degree in education from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.[3] He spent nearly two decades in northwest Arctic communities working as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. Dunleavy's wife, Rose, is from the Kobuk River Valley community of Noorvik. They have three children, who were raised in both rural and urban Alaska. In 2004, Dunleavy and his family moved to Wasilla, where he owned an educational consulting firm and worked on a number of statewide educational projects. Before his election to the Alaska Senate, Dunleavy served on the board of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, including two years as its president.[2]
State legislative career[edit]
Dunleavy defeated incumbent state senator Linda Menard (redistricted from District G) in the District D August 28, 2012, Republican primary with 2,802 votes (57.42%).[4] He was unopposed in the November 6 general election and won with 11,724 votes (94.24%) against write-in candidates.[5]
Dunleavy held various committee positions during his first term. He served as chair of the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee, co-chair of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) Throughput Special Committee, vice-chair of the Senate Education Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, and a member of the Legislative Council.[6]
In 2014, Dunleavy ran unopposed in the Republican primary election on August 19.[7] He defeated Democratic nominee Warren Keogh in the November general election with 64.65% of the vote.[8]
During his second term, Dunleavy was chair of the Senate Education Committee and a member of the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Special Committee on Federal Overreach.[9]
Dunleavy introduced multiple bills and resolutions to expand and enhance public charter schools, correspondence study programs, tax credits for educational contributions, and a constitutional amendment for the use of public education. He was successful with legislation in his second term, establishing Alaska's parental bill of rights.[10]