Republican Palin elected Alaska gov.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Voters elected fresh-faced Republican Sarah Palin Alaska's first female governor in a six-candidate race in Tuesday's midterm elections.

With 98 percent of the precincts counted Wednesday, Palin defeated Democrat Tony Knowles 49 percent to 41 percent. Independent Andrew Halcro had 10 percent.

Knowles was Alaskan governor from 1994-2002 and Palin successful painted him as a politician whose time had passed, the Anchorage (Alaska) Daily News said.

"All right," Palin, 42, told supporters at the Egan Convention Center in Anchorage late Tuesday. "Are you ready for new energy for Alaska?"