Ethan Berkowitz

Ethan Berkowitz
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives from the 26th district
In office January 21, 2003 – January 15, 2007
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Lindsey Holmes
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives from the 13th district
In office January 13, 1997 – January 20, 2003
Preceded by	Cynthia Toohey
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born	(1962-02-04) February 4, 1962 San Francisco, California, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Mara Kimmel
Alma mater	Harvard University University of Cambridge University of California, Hastings
Religion	Judaism

Ethan A. Berkowitz (born February 4, 1962) is an American politician who was the Alaska State Representative for District 26 from 1997 through 2007, serving as Democratic Party Minority Leader from 1999 to 2007. He was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 2006, for Alaska's at-large congressional district in 2008 and for Governor in 2010.

Early life and education

Berkowitz received his degrees from Harvard College, Cambridge University, and Hastings College of Law. He is an attorney and business owner.

Political career

Alaska House of Representatives

Berkowitz was the Democratic Party Minority Leader in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1999 to 2007. He was first elected to represent District 26 (Anchorage) in 1996, and then re-elected in 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2004.

2006 Gubernatorial Election

In the 2006 election, Berkowitz was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, running with gubernatorial nominee Tony Knowles. Knowles and Berkowitz were defeated in the general election by Sarah Palin and Sean Parnell, losing by 48% to 41%.

2008 Congressional Election

In 2008, Berkowitz ran for election as U.S. Representative for Alaska's At-large congressional district, held by scandal-plagued Republican Don Young, who was seeking his nineteenth term in Congress. Berkowitz defeated Diane Benson in the August 26 Democratic primary by a substantial margin. This was in large part due to citizens' knowledge of his skills as a reformist.^[1]

The initial results from the general election on November 4, 2008, showed Young leading the race, but with many absentee and provisional ballots left to be counted, the race was not called. On November 12, 2008, the media declared that Young, 75, had retained his seat in the United States House of Representatives, for his 19th term. Young received 50% of the vote compared to Berkowitz's 45%.^[2][3]

Berkowitz himself conceded defeat on November 18, 2008, after counting of absentee and provisional ballots had mostly been completed and Young had a clearly insurmountable lead. Berkowitz received more votes in 2008 (142,560) than any Democrat who had ever run against Young for Congress, and the 2008 race was the closest any Democrat had come to unseating Young since 1990, when John Devens of Valdez received 48% of the vote.^[4]

2010 Gubernatorial Election

Berkowitz indicated he was interested in challenging incumbent Governor Sarah Palin before her surprise resignation in 2009.^[5] Berkowitz entered the race despite Palin's resignation and on August 24, 2010 he defeated State Senator, Hollis S. French to win the Democratic nomination. He and running mate for Lieutenant Governor Diane E. Benson faced incumbent Republican Governor Sean Parnell in the November general election and were defeated by a margin of 59% to 38%.^[6]

Subsequent career

Berkowitz took the position of Senior Vice President of the Anchorage, Alaska branch of Strategies 360 in February, 2011.^[7]

He has not ruled out running for Governor again in 2014.^[8]

References

External links

• Ethan Berkowitz for Governor official campaign website
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Profile at SourceWatch
• Ethan Berkowitz at 100 Years of Alaska's Legislature