And then there were 5

The governor’s race split wide open Friday when former Democratic U.S. Senator Mark Begich and former Republican Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell jumped into the governor’s race.

Before Friday there were three major candidates, incumbent Bill Walker, an independent and two Republicans, former state Sen. Mike Dunleavy and Scott Hawkins, an Anchorage businessman.

Walker, who had been flirting with running in the Democratic primary, now says he and Byron Mallott, now lieutenant governor, will instead run as independents once again, appearing on the November ballot.

This sets up a potential three-way race in November where the outcome could be decided by a margin slightly more than a third of the state’s voters, a minority.

That scenario is highly unpredictable. Any one of the major candidates in the race could win.

Walker’s strengths include a high name recognition, credit given for facing up to the state’s fiscal crisis and expanding Medicaid health coverage tp thousands of low-income Alaskans.

His weaknesses are lingering negative feelings among some voters for having vetoed part of the Permanent Fund dividend three years ago. If there is progress by November on a natural gas pipeline, which Walker has championed, he will get credit for that.

Dunleavy’s appeal is mainly to conservatives, who are strong in Alaska, and strong positions on fiscal policy, favoring more budget cuts and a larger PFD, which Dunleavy said would strengthen the state’s economy.

Hawkins is a new face, which many see as fresh, and his record as a successful businessman is a plus.

Treadwell brings a business background as well along with government experience as lieutenant governor and previously a state Deputy Commissioner of Environmental Conservation.

In a statement, Walker touched on his accomplishments:

“In the last three and a half years, we've made healthcare a reality for 40,000 Alaskans. We've reduced the state budget to 2007 levels. We've worked to diversify state revenue and move Alaska beyond the unilateral, paralyzing dependence on the price of a single volatile commodity,” Walker said in a statement.

“We've seen that shift take flight with the passage of Senate Bill 26 this last legislative session, closing the fiscal gap by 80 percent. We've had tough conversations about our fiscal future, and we've told Alaskans the truth.

Treadwell, in a statement, said, “Many Alaskans all over the state were unsatisfied with our choices. After much prayer, and discussion with my family, I'm running to offer Alaskans a strong, pro-business, experienced conservative choice.”

In a message sent Friday to supporters Begich said, "I am running for Governor because the stakes could not be higher. Alaska is my home and I will not sit back and watch our state continue to fall behind."

Begich kept people guessing right until the last moment although it had been rumored for months the he would jump into the race.

Treadwell’s entry was a surprise to many, although his interest in running for some statewide office has long been known.