Politics of Alaska best performance, with a net gain of 7.5 percentage points. In 2008, Governor Sarah Palin became the first Republican woman to run on a national ticket when she became John McCain's running mate. She continued to be a prominent national figure even after resigning from the governor's job in July 2009. Politics of Alaska Political party strength in Alaska has varied over the years. The communities of Juneau, Sitka, downtown and midtown Anchorage, the areas surrounding the College/University of Alaska Fairbanks campus and Ester and the "Alaska Bush" – rural, sparsely populated Alaska – stand out as Democratic strongholds, while
Craig Johnson (Alaska politician) Representative Johnson has a wife, Nancy, and two children, Erin & Jenifer. Craig Johnson graduated from Miami High School in Miami, Oklahoma. He attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College from 1973–1975, and Oklahoma State University from 1975–1977. Craig Johnson (Alaska politician) Craig W. Johnson (born November 22, 1953) is a Republican member of the Alaska House of Representatives, representing the 28th District since 2006. He is currently serving as Co-Chair of the Resources Committee, Chair of the Cook Island Salmon Task Force, Vice-Chair of the Transportation Committee, and is a member of the State Affairs Committee, and the Fisheries Special Committee.