Family commitments won't allow an active campaign, Mendias said. She is caring for two grandchildren, ages 13 and 8, while her son attends school, she said. Mendias, 58, of Chugiak, ran unopposed in her party's primary.

Party Chairman Ray Metcalfe said he does not have a candidate in line to replace Mendias. The deadline to name a replacement is Wednesday.

The party is in danger of losing its ballot access status after the Nov. 5 election. Alaska election law requires a political party to garner either 3 percent of the vote for governor or have a membership equal to 3 percent of the state's registered voters. The party has about 2,872 members, far short of the 3 percent threshold.