AFN board won't endorse candidates this year after backing Peltola in 2022 and 2024

The Alaska Federation of Natives' board of directors has decided AFN will not endorse any candidates in the 2026 general election, according to a resolution the group posted Oct. 2.

That's a change from the last two elections. Delegates at AFN's convention endorsed Mary Peltola and Sen. Lisa Murkowski in 2022, and endorsed Peltola again in 2024.

This year, Peltola is challenging Sen. Dan Sullivan for his U.S. Senate seat.

Resolution 26-01 says the board determined it is in AFN's best interest not to endorse specific candidates this year. It doesn't name any candidates or races.

The resolution points to the range of political views among AFN's members. "Most Alaska Natives are not members of the two main political parties," it says. AFN's strength rests on unity while respecting those differences, and members share a commitment to subsistence and self-determination regardless of which candidates they prefer, according to the resolution.

Instead of an endorsement, the resolution thanks all statewide candidates and urges Alaska Natives to vote, whether early starting Oct. 19, absentee or in person on Election Day, Nov. 3.

AFN is the largest statewide Native organization in Alaska. Its members include 192 federally recognized tribes, 152 village corporations, 11 regional corporations and 11 regional nonprofit and tribal consortiums.

The resolution is written in the name of delegates to this year's AFN convention, Oct. 22 to 24 in Anchorage. Delegates are scheduled to take up this year's resolutions on the convention's final day, according to a draft agenda.

Murkowski, Sullivan and U.S. Rep. Nick Begich are all scheduled to address the convention on its first day. A candidates forum is set for the afternoon of Oct. 23.