Frier releases candidate statement for House District 40 re-election

North Slope and Northwest Arctic residents facing erosion, high energy costs, and limited public safety services are the focus of Robyn Niayuq Frier's re-election campaign for Alaska House District 40. Frier, who legally changed her name from Burke on Oct. 15, 2025, released her official candidate statement for the 2026 race for the seat covering the North Slope Borough and Northwest Arctic Borough.

Frier, 35, was born and raised in Utqiaġvik and has represented the district since her election in November 2024. Her current term ends Jan. 19, 2027. Before the Alaska State House, she served as president of the North Slope Borough School District Board of Education.

Education funding is among her stated top priorities. She wrote in her statement that she was raised by an educator and that ensuring students and educators have the resources they need to succeed will always be one of her top priorities.

Community members and local school district officials in the North Slope and Northwest Arctic have, in public documents and testimony, argued that state funding formulas and capital spending do not keep pace with the high costs of operating in remote Arctic communities. "The North Slope and Northwest Arctic need serious investment to address the threat of erosion, high energy costs, and lacking public safety presence," she said. On resource development, she argued the district's contribution to statewide wealth must translate into community revenues. "Our district provides wealth for all of Alaska, and our people have proven to be responsible stewards of these resources."

The candidate statement was provided and paid for by Frier and is not endorsed by the Division of Elections.