Sen. Ralph Seekins, R-Fairbanks, said Wednesday he will no longer focus his efforts on running for governor this year unless Gov. Frank Murkowski decides not to run for re-election.
"There's no way I'll run against a sitting governor in our party," Seekins said.
His campaign could make things "mean and nasty" for the Republican party if the governor intends to run again, he said.
Seekins will run for re-election in the district that he has represented since 2002.
"I believe that's where I'll end up because I think (Murkowski) will run again," Seekins said.
The senator said he has no inside knowledge on Murkowski's future plans, which the governor is set to publicly address in late January, according to his spokeswoman Becky Hultberg.
"I'm not going to pressure him to run," Seekins said.
Seekins is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and vice chairman of the Senate Resources Committee. He also owns a car dealership in Fairbanks.
The senator said he has not raised any money for the gubernatorial race.
Seekins said Murkowski is doing a "pretty good job" of running state affairs. He said the governor should be more proactive in pushing through policies affecting the state's natural resources and better communicate his ideas, such as the need for a new jet.
"Because I don't agree with the governor's style, does that mean I should replace him?" Seekins said.
The Republican primary for governor will likely be a four-way race between Lt. Governor Loren Leman, former Fairbanks senator and businessman John Binkley, former Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin and Murkowski, Seekins said.
Binkley and Palin have filled letters of intent with the state to run for office next year and both have said that office will be the governor's seat. Leman has not announced if he will run for governor.
The deadline for candidates to file applications with the Alaska Division of Elections is June 1.
On the Democrat's side, House Minority Leader Rep. Ethan Berkowitz and Rep. Eric Croft have announced their intentions to run for governor. Former Gov. Tony Knowles is rumored to be exploring the possibility of running, but has not made an announcement yet.
• Andrew Petty can be reached at andrew.petty@juneauempire.com
