Alaska Gov. Bill Walker announced today he is dropping his bid for re-election and endorsing Democrat Mark Begich against Republican Mike Dunleavy.

Just another day in the topsy-turvy world of Alaska politics.

Walker, elected as an independent four years ago, made the announcement while speaking to a crowd just three days after former Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott stepped down from both his office and the re-election campaign over unspecified “inappropriate comments” he made to a woman.

“Every decision I have made as your governor, I have made on the basis of what I believe is best for Alaska. With that said, effective today, I am suspending my campaign for re-election as governor.”

There were gasps from the audience who were clearly not expecting the announcement.

Walker said that with only 18 days until the election, he had been talking to “many, many, many Alaskans” about which candidate had a better chance of prevailing against Dunleavy.

Walker’s announcement came at the start of a scheduled candidate forum at the AFN convention, at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage.

Dunleavy watched the speech intently, leaned forward, showing no emotion. He remained seated at end of the speech as the crowd gave Walker an ovation.

Dunleavy told the Daily News he will still win election.

“That’s the goal. That’s the plan,” he said. “I’m still trying to take all this in. This is news to me. ”

Walker, a Republican-turned-independent, was elected in 2014 on a so-called unity ticket with Mallott, a Democrat, and defeated incumbent Republican Sean Parnell.

The general election is Nov. 6. Early voting starts Monday. The Walker-Mallott ticket will remain on the ballots.