Soldotna fisherman files for governor on food-security platform

Henry F. Hank Kroll, a commercial fisherman with a Soldotna mailing address, filed to run for Alaska governor as a Republican with a campaign centered on food security. His candidacy adds to the list of 2026 gubernatorial candidates that already includes former Governor Bill Walker, former state Senator Lesil McGuire, and former U.S. Representative Nick Begich.

Kroll warns that Alaska lacks sufficient farmland to feed residents if war, natural disaster, or grid failure cuts off food shipments from the Lower 48. He proposes acquiring 28 million acres from the federal government and trading one acre of land per dividend check to preserve the annual payment while expanding farm production. Alaska law does not currently provide a mechanism to tie Permanent Fund Dividend payments directly to federal land transfers.

Kroll also proposes using artificial intelligence to address what he calls a failed school system. He wants to increase tourism and food production by stocking lakes with fish and allowing landowners to charge for fishing access.

Alaska imports an estimated 90 to 95 percent of its food from outside the state via marine and air shipping. The state's geographic isolation and reliance on marine shipping routes, such as through the Port of Anchorage, create potential vulnerabilities if major transportation disruptions occur.

"Food security is a huge issue for the state," said Mike Cronk, who has testified on Alaska's limited growing season and infrastructure gaps. "The vast majority of our food is shipped up through South Central or trucked through Canada."

Most federal land in Alaska is managed by the Department of the Interior through agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Changes in ownership generally require congressional or administrative action under federal law. Alaska already has a legal framework for agricultural land sales and leases on certain state lands, with restrictions such as requirements that land be used for agriculture and limitations on subdivision or non-agricultural development.

Kroll is a registered Republican candidate whose filing was submitted in accordance with Alaska statutes governing candidate filings. Born in Seldovia in 1944, he claims 22 years of experience as a commercial king crab fisherman and 74 years as a salmon fisherman.