Elections
RSSElection cycles, candidate filings, campaign milestones, debate coverage, ranked-choice runoffs, election-day operations, ballot measure campaigns, and post-election certifications.
Alaska's top two Senate candidates both campaigned in Fairbanks on the same day
Alaska's top Senate candidates, Sullivan and Peltola, both worked Fairbanks on June 24 — in a close, nationally watched race where neither can cede the Interior.

Alaska Democrats mark Dobbs anniversary, but abortion rights here remain protected
Two Alaska Democrats marked the Dobbs anniversary vowing to protect abortion rights — which the state constitution already has, since 1972. Anniversary politics, on cue.

Alaska kicked Sullivan off the ballot. In 2024, the state argued it couldn't
Alaska kicked Sullivan off the ballot for filing 'not in good faith.' In 2024, the state literally argued in court that wasn't its call.

Two Assembly members want Martinez out. The removal law may not reach him
Two members want Martinez gone over APOC fines. The removal law they're trying to use might not be a fit, and the math to carry it out would be an uphill battle.

Daniel J. Sullivan sued the state today over a denied Senate ballot spot
Denied a Senate ballot spot, Daniel J. Sullivan sued today. Lawmakers held a hearing on the same question the same afternoon.

Alaska's candidate withdrawal deadline is June 27. After Saturday, the August 18 primary ballot is largely set
Alaska's crowded 2026 governor race faces a June 27 withdrawal deadline. With 18 tickets filed and only four primary slots available, a divided Republican field could cost the right general-election slots even if conservative voters remain numerous.

Von Imhof Launches Anchorage Mayoral Bid With 'Fix and Grow' Platform
Former state senator Natasha Von Imhof launched a campaign for Anchorage mayor against incumbent Suzanne LaFrance. The election is scheduled for April 6, 2027.

Outside spending in the Alaska Senate race intensifies — Majority Forward ads target Sullivan
Outside spending lands in the Alaska Senate race. Majority Forward attacks Sullivan on Iran; GOP-aligned spending is 2x as large.

Peltola releases Alaska fisheries platform anchored in factory trawling ban
Democrat Mary Peltola released a Senate campaign fisheries platform calling for a ban on factory trawling and tribal seats on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. • Peltola, a former U.S. representative and fishing boat captain, cited declining salmon returns as urgency for the reforms. • The platform also proposes freezing the Federal Subsistence Board's current composition and expanding electronic monitoring for bycatch.

Legal memo says Daniel J. Sullivan appears eligible for U.S. Senate ballot
A Legislative Legal Services memo says Daniel J. Sullivan meets U.S. Constitution requirements for Senate and that the lieutenant governor likely lacked authority to reject his candidacy filing, though elections officials still list him as denied.

Mat-Su Says No to Swapping Property Tax for Sales Tax
Mat-Su weighed trading its property tax for a 6.5% sales tax — same money, different payers — and decided renters, shoppers, and an untested legal handcuff made it a bad bet for the ballot.

Murkowski and Sullivan split on a motion to discharge an Iran War Powers Resolution
Iran War Powers Resolution: Murkowski yes, Sullivan no. The 2020 version went the same way. Pattern noted.

Alaska AFL-CIO endorsed Peltola for Senate and Hill for House Wednesday
Alaska AFL-CIO endorsed Peltola and Hill. The federation traditionally goes Democratic. The other side wasn't asked.

Blake Gettys Builds LG Bid Around Personal Survival Story
Getty tries to tell Alaskans about his bio. Hughes has not been shown in the top four in any publicly available poll.

Alaska elections office denies Daniel J. Sullivan's U.S. Senate filing
Alaska election officials denied Petersburg resident Daniel J. Sullivan's U.S. Senate candidacy, finding his filing mimicked incumbent Dan S. Sullivan's name and campaign to confuse voters.

Cook Political Report shifts Alaska Senate race to Toss Up as Peltola leads Sullivan
Democrat Mary Peltola leads Republican Dan Sullivan 49.4 percent to 44.2 percent in a new poll of Alaska's U.S. Senate race, but falls short of the 50 percent needed to win under ranked-choice voting.

Senator Sullivan threatens legal action over namesake challenger
U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan is threatening legal action against Republican challenger Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher from Petersburg, claiming the shared name is designed to confuse voters in Alaska's top-four primary.
Coast Guard to homeport four icebreakers in Alaska
Coast Guard will homeport four icebreakers in Alaska, with two Arctic Security Cutters in Kodiak by 2028 and a third in Seward, following $3.5 billion in federal funding.

Kreiss-Tomkins tries to make up ground, launches six-figure ad buy in governor's race
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, a former Sitka legislator, launched a six-figure ad campaign across Meta, YouTube, and radio for Alaska's 2026 governor's race, focusing on schools, fisheries, and cost of living.

APOC fines George Martinez after campaign-paid flight to Florida
Oh goodness... I guess campaign finance laws were made for a reason.

Coast Guard to homeport four icebreakers in Alaska
Coast Guard will homeport four icebreakers in Alaska by 2028, with two in Kodiak, one in Seward, and a fourth location to be named, funded by $3.5 billion in federal legislation.

Alaska elections director moves to disqualify Senate challenger
Alaska's elections director ruled Thursday that Republican Senate challenger Dan J. Sullivan is ineligible to run in the August primary, citing unspecified complaints about his eligibility.

Alaska Senate race shifts to toss-up as Peltola challenges Sullivan
A nonpartisan forecaster moved Alaska's 2026 Senate race to toss-up, citing Democrat Mary Peltola's strong 2024 House showing and Republican Dan Sullivan's weak profile, though Alaska remains solidly Republican.

Coast Guard to homeport four icebreakers in Alaska
The Coast Guard will homeport two Arctic Security Cutters in Kodiak and one in Seward starting in 2028, funded by $3.5 billion in the 2025 Working Families Tax Cuts Act.

Crystal Ball shifts Alaska Senate race to toss-up as Peltola leads eight polls
University of Virginia's Crystal Ball rated Alaska's 2026 Senate race a toss-up, shifting from lean Republican after Democrat Mary Peltola entered against incumbent Dan Sullivan. • Peltola's campaign says she leads in eight consecutive polls and unveiled a wages-focused tax proposal. • Republican super PACs committed $21 million to oppose her.

Peltola proposes corporate tax tied to worker pay in Senate race
New Peltola plan: companies with rich CEOs and broke workers pay more. Odds of passing: low. Odds of becoming a debate line: certain.

The other Dan Sullivan case tests Alaska's election-law limits
Alaska's elections office is investigating whether a Petersburg man filed genuinely as a Republican Senate candidate or used a name similar to incumbent Dan Sullivan to confuse voters.

Alaska investigates U.S. Senate candidate over name confusion claim
Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom opened an investigation June 8 into whether U.S. Senate candidate Daniel James Sullivan Jr. of Petersburg filed his declaration of candidacy to confuse voters

Dunleavy vetoes rural transit planning bill
Governor Dunleavy vetoed a bill requiring rural transit programs be included in statewide transportation planning, saying the state already does this work.

Peltola cites fuel costs as barrier to rural Alaska campaign stops
Democrat Mary Peltola wrapped a rural Alaska campaign tour by small plane and boat to reach villages where fuel costs exceed $6 a gallon, pressing affordability as her main message against Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan in the August primary.

Sullivan: Russia flooding markets to drive down Alaska fish prices
Senator Dan Sullivan says a U.S. ban on Russian seafood protects Alaska fishermen from market flooding. • Reports show Russian fish still enters the U.S. through China, bypassing the ban. • Experts say global market factors also drive down Alaska fish prices.

Bronson files to run for Alaska governor
Dave Bronson, Anchorage mayor from 2021 to 2024, filed to run for Alaska governor as a Republican, pledging to cut bureaucracy and boost resource development. The primary is August 18, 2026.

Former state senator Lesil McGuire files for Alaska governor
Former state senator Lesil McGuire filed an APOC Letter of Intent for governor on May 29 and rounded out a Lesil McGuire and Elizabeth Rexford ticket by the June 1 deadline. The Alaska Division of Elections listed 17 governor and lieutenant governor tickets as of Monday evening, spanning Republicans, Democrats, and nonpartisan pairings. The August 18 primary advances the top four tickets to a ranked-choice general election November 3.

Five candidates file for Alaska governor in 2026
Five candidates had filed APOC Letters of Intent for Alaska governor through May 29: Tom Begich, Edna DeVries, Dave Bronson, Henry Kroll, and Lesil McGuire. By Monday evening, the field had grown to 17 governor and lieutenant governor tickets on the Alaska Division of Elections list. The August 18 primary advances the top four tickets to a ranked-choice general election November 3.

Five candidates file for Alaska governor in 2026 race
Five candidates filed to run for Alaska governor in 2026, including former senators Lesil McGuire and Tom Begich, former Anchorage mayor Dave Bronson, Mat-Su Borough mayor Edna DeVries, and author Henry Kroll. • Incumbent Mike Dunleavy is term-limited and cannot seek a third consecutive term. • The nonpartisan primary is August 18, 2026, with the general election November 3, 2026.

Second Dan Sullivan files for Alaska U.S. Senate race
A Petersburg resident named Dan Sullivan filed to run for U.S. Senate in 2026 as an undeclared candidate against incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, who has raised $7.5 million and secured endorsements from Murkowski and Begich.
Sullivan raises $2.1M in Q1, lands labor and Native-corporation endorsements
Senator Dan Sullivan raised 2.1 million dollars in the first quarter of 2026 and won endorsements from Alaska Teamsters, laborers unions, fishermen, and Alaska Native regional corporations representing 145,000 workers and shareholders.

Okitkun files for Alaska House District 39 seat
Reynold Okitkun filed Tuesday as a nonpartisan candidate for Alaska House District 39, focusing his campaign on restoring fishing and subsistence rights to rural communities.

Neal Foster files for House District 39 re-election
State Representative Neal Foster, a Democrat who has served House District 39 since 2009, filed for re-election emphasizing his seniority and work on rural energy assistance, dividend payments, and senior benefits.

Soldotna fisherman files for governor on food-security platform
Soldotna commercial fisherman Hank Kroll filed to run for Alaska governor as a Republican. • He proposes acquiring 28 million federal acres and tying Permanent Fund Dividend payments to land transfers to boost food production. • Alaska imports 90 to 95 percent of its food from outside the state.
