Elections: Northern Hoorah

The Republicans' mid-term resurgence gained a little extra luster last week. In Juneau, Democrat William Egan, 52, Alaska's only elected Governor in eight years of statehood, formally acknowledged his defeat by Republican Walter J. Hickel, 47, a hotel and construction millionaire who landed in Anchorage in 1940 with 37¢ in his pocket. Egan originally conceded the day after the election, only to withdraw his concession when Hickel's lead narrowed. Last week's official canvass put the vote at 33,145 for Hickel, 32,065 for Egan and 1,085 for an independent. The outcome confirmed the number of governorships won by the G.O.P. so far (excluding Georgia) at 23 (v. eleven for the Democrats), for a net gain of eight, and control of 25 statehouses.