The announcement came three days after Walker's running mate, former Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott (D), stepped down and dropped his reelection bid , citing unspecific "inappropriate comments" made to a woman.

ADVERTISEMENT "Effective today I am suspending my campaign," Walker said Friday at the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention, according to the Anchorage Daily News

"In the time remaining, it has become clear we cannot win a three-way race," he said. "The decisions was made that at this point, Begich has the better odds. Alaskans deserve a competitive race and Alaskans deserve a choice other than Mike Dunleavey."

The Republican-turned-independent was seeking a second term after being elected in 2014.

Democrats quickly praised the move Friday, saying it put their candidate in a position to potentially win the governor's mansion.

“This is a game changer in the Alaska Governor’s race. This race immediately becomes a tossup, open-seat race between a popular Democrat in Mark Begich and a fringe Republican in Mike Dunleavy," Democratic Governors Association Executive Director Elisabeth Pearson said in a statement.

poll released by Alaska Survey Research this week showed Dunleavy with 43 percent of likely voters' support, compared to 26.6 percent and 26.4 percent for Walker and Begich, respectively.