JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - The Latest on the Alaska governor’s race (all times local):
8:10 p.m.
Democrat Mark Begich and Republican Mike Dunleavy tangled over issues of crime and education during a one-on-one statewide debate in the race for Alaska governor.
Begich cited budget cuts as contributing to higher crime rates. Dunleavy, who left the state Senate in January after five years, said crime did not go up because of the Legislature.
Meanwhile, Dunleavy, who supports school choice, noted that Begich had once sent his son to private school. Begich said he supports investments in public education, including pre-kindergarten.
The debate comes less than two weeks before the Nov. 6 election. It is the third head-to-head matchup between Begich and Dunleavy since Gov. Bill Walker announced last week that he was ending his campaign.
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7 p.m.
Democrat Mark Begich and Republican Mike Dunleavy are facing off in their highest-profile debate so far in the Alaska governor’s race.
The “Debate for the State,” featuring the two, has gotten under way in Anchorage. The debate is sponsored by Anchorage television station KTUU and Alaska Public Media. It is being carried around the state.
The debate comes less than two weeks before the Nov. 6 election. It is the third head-to-head matchup between Begich and Dunleavy since Gov. Bill Walker announced last week that he was ending his campaign.
Walker said Begich would be better for Alaska than Dunleavy.
Meanwhile Thursday, President Donald Trump endorsed Dunleavy via Twitter. The band Portugal. The Man, which has ties to Alaska, also went to Twitter, to endorse Begich.
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1:30 p.m.
President Donald Trump has taken to Twitter to endorse Republican Mike Dunleavy in the Alaska governor’s race.
The endorsement was among a smattering of endorsements Trump posted Thursday, hours before Dunleavy was scheduled to participate in a broadcast debate against Democrat Mark Begich.
At a forum last month, the men were asked to rate Trump’s job performance on a scale of zero to 10, with 10 the highest. Begich said “four minus.” Dunleavy said eight.
The governor’s race was shaken up last week when Gov. Bill Walker said he could not win against Begich and Dunleavy and ended his campaign.
The announcement came days after Walker’s lieutenant governor and close friend, Byron Mallott, resigned over unspecified inappropriate comments.
Walker, an independent, said Begich would be better for Alaska than Dunleavy.
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