The party informed the state Division of Elections on Wednesday that it has nominated Raymond Vinzant Sr. to fill the vacancy left by Dawn Mendias.

Vinzant is a registered Republican who lost his race in the GOP primary for Senate District Q against Sen. Jerry Ward, a Nikiski Republican.

Republican Moderate Party Chairman Ray Metcalfe informed the state Division of Elections that Vinzant would be his party's candidate.

Along with the filing was a pledge signed by Vinzant to uphold that party's principles or face dismissal.

Mendias, who announced earlier this week that she would drop out due to family obligations, will run as the party's lieutenant governor candidate, Metcalfe said.

It is not immediately clear whether the party may nominate a registered Republican to fill the vacancy, said Virginia Breeze, spokeswoman for the state Division of Elections.

"We had just received these documents and we will be reviewing them and checking with our legal counsel," Breeze said.

The announcement came on the last day that parties could nominate a replacement to fill vacancies on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.

The Alaska Democratic Party also has replaced a legislative candidate. Shirley Demientieff withdrew from the Senate District E race and was replaced by Mike Walleri.

Walleri will face incumbent Sen. Gary Wilken, a Fairbanks Republican, and Green Party candidate David Stannard in November.