Independent Bill Hill takes second in Alaska's US House primary, advances to November

Independent Bill Hill advanced to Alaska's November ballot for the state's lone U.S. House seat, finishing second in the Aug. 18 top-four primary with 30.9% of the vote. Incumbent Republican Nick Begich III led at 46.1%. Democrats Matt Schultz (8%) and Eric Hafner (3.8%) took the other two spots. The count remains unofficial, with 401 of 403 precincts reporting.

Schultz suspended his campaign on July 17 and endorsed Hill, then finished third anyway. Hafner, a Democrat who also ran for the seat in 2024, has reported no fundraising to the Federal Election Commission this cycle.

Hill, a Bristol Bay commercial fisherman and former teacher, principal and superintendent, ran as an independent. Federal reports through June 30 show Begich raised about $5.26 million and Hill about $1.17 million.

The general election is Nov. 3. Voters that day also decide a measure to repeal the top-four primary and ranked-choice voting.