Dunleavy announces plans to run for governor

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – A Republican state senator has announced plans to run for governor in Alaska.

Sen. Mike Dunleavy of Wasilla on Monday filed with the Alaska Public Offices Commission a letter of intent to run.

The election will be held next year. Gov. Bill Walker, a Republican-turned-independent, has not formally announced whether he’ll seek

re-election.

Walker told reporters Monday that he is focused on getting a state capital budget passed.

Dunleavy had been flirting with the idea of running for governor for some time.

Earlier this year, he left the Senate’s Republican-led majority caucus. Dunleavy said he did not believe that enough had been done to curb state spending and he disagreed with limiting the size of this year’s Permanent Fund dividends.