Politics & Campaigns
RSSAlaska News tracks coverage of state and federal political campaigns, including gubernatorial and Senate races, candidate positions on issues like the PFD.
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.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
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
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
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.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
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.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min read
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.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min read
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.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago1 min read
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.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago2 min readFive 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.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago2 min readFive 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.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago2 min readSecond 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.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago1 min readSullivan 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.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago1 min read
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.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago1 min readNeal 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.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago2 min readSoldotna 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.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago2 min readFormer Anchorage mayor Dave Bronson files for Alaska governor
Former Anchorage mayor Dave Bronson filed Friday to run for Alaska governor as a Republican, pledging aggressive resource development and lower energy costs.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago1 min read
Darren Morgan Deacon files for Alaska State Senate District S
Darren Morgan Deacon, a former tribal chief from Kalskag, filed as a Republican for Alaska State Senate District S on a platform of full Permanent Fund dividends and subsistence rights protection.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago1 min read
Nonpartisan files for Anchorage state Senate seat
Nicholas Danger, a 70-year-old health and safety manager, filed as a nonpartisan candidate for Alaska State Senate District G, running on budget cuts, full Permanent Fund dividends, and moving the state capital to Willow.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago1 min read
Fairbanks wealth manager files for lieutenant governor
Josh Church, a Fairbanks wealth manager and Marine Corps veteran, filed Thursday to run for lieutenant governor in 2026 as a Republican.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago1 min read
Chase filing sets up Kotzebue, North Slope rematch in House District 40
A rematch up north between the sitting House Representative from HD40 and the Mayor of Kotzebue
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Boyle files to challenge Holland in high-turnout South Anchorage House Seat.
South Anchorage comes out to vote. Holland and Boyle have until November to make their case.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska's filing deadline turned the 2026 election from rumor into a real race
So many candidates, so little time left
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Open South Midtown seat draws three candidates after Josephson opts not to seek reelection.
House District 13 in South Midtown Anchorage has three candidates after Rep. Andy Josephson declined reelection: Democrat Lisa Keller, Democrat Felix Rivera, and Republican Sarah Short, in a district where the last race was decided by 477 votes.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Vance-Johnson rematch gives southern Kenai Peninsula a cleaner House race
Rep. Sarah Vance faces a rematch against nonpartisan Brent Johnson in House District 6 on the southern Kenai Peninsula after a third Republican candidate split the vote in 2024.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Twenty-two-vote House race becomes open-seat fight in North Anchorage
David Nelson is OUT. It's former lawmaker Cliff Groh v Dan Sager.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Stapp draws same-party challenge in East Fairbanks House district
Republican Rep. Will Stapp faces a same-party challenge from Seth Church in House District 32, which covers East Fairbanks, Fort Wainwright and Badger. Stapp won the seat in 2024 with 67 percent of the vote.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Costello-Wells rematch puts Southwest Anchorage House seat back in play
Rep. Mia Costello, a Republican, faces a rematch against Democrat Denny Wells in Southwest Anchorage House District 15 after beating him by 529 votes in 2024.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Ketchikan House race pits utility incumbent against borough assembly challenger
Ketchikan has a race on its hand with a last minute filing
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Underwood-Eastman rematch gives Wasilla voters another House District 27 choice
Rep. Jubilee Underwood and former Rep. David Eastman, both Wasilla Republicans, are set for a rematch in House District 27 after Underwood defeated him by 196 votes in 2024.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Kreiss-Tomkins picks Anchorage Assembly member Zac Johnson as running mate
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, a Democratic-aligned candidate for Alaska governor, selected Anchorage Assembly member Zac Johnson as his running mate on the final filing day Monday.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Challenger named Dan Sullivan files for U.S. Senate race against incumbent Dan Sullivan
There are now two Dan Sullivans in the race. That’s gonna be confusing.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Lesil McGuire filing adds ranked-choice Republican voice to crowded Alaska governor race
Former state Sen. Lesil McGuire filed to run for governor Friday, joining a crowded 2026 race shaped by Alaska's open primary and ranked choice voting system that she defended in 2024.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Walker filing, running-mate picks turn Alaska governor race toward June deadline
Former Gov. Bill Walker filed to run for Alaska governor Thursday, four days before the June 1 deadline, reshaping a race where three other candidates also announced running mates this week.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Begich selects Julia Hnilicka as running mate in Alaska governor's race
Begich picks Hnilicka as running mate.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Alaska AG voids contested Area M salmon regulations after ethics challenge
Alaska attorney general voided five salmon regulations after board members failed to disclose conflicts of interest. • Fishing groups won relief through ethics enforcement instead of court. • Regulations would have restricted fishing time and added chinook catch closures. • Board must restart the process to readopt any rules.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Alaska House passes campaign contribution limits that could take effect during 2026 election
Alaska House passed a bill to restore campaign donation limits of 2,000 dollars per donor per candidate. • The bill takes effect 90 days after the governor acts, likely before November 2026 election. • Governor can sign, veto, or do nothing. Inaction lets the bill become law. • Opponents say it restricts speech and will likely face lawsuit.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska Senate Passes Education Bill With 4% Property Tax Cap
Senate passed education bill with 4% cap on required local contribution growth, limiting property value increases that shift school funding from state to local governments. • Bill includes energy grants for schools and teacher loan repayment up to $5,000 yearly for STEM and special education teachers. • Cap could cost state $41.6 million by 2035 but prevents districts from losing millions in revenue.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska Senate adopts final operating, mental health and capital budgets
Alaska Senate passed fiscal year 2027 operating budget on 17-3 vote, balanced at $75 per barrel oil without drawing from savings. • Mental health budget approved 20-0, adding $3.5 million for behavioral health treatment and $500,000 for crisis call center. • Capital budget concurred 18-2, including $32.5 million for University of Alaska deferred maintenance and school and port projects.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago2 min read
House panel hears bill requiring disclosure of out-of-state campaign funding
A House bill would require political groups funded mostly by out-of-state donors to disclose that fact in campaign ads, closing a transparency gap that lets outside money influence Alaska elections.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min read
House panel hears bill to strengthen campaign finance disclosure
House panel heard a bill requiring groups that spend money on Alaska elections to disclose if most of their funding comes from outside the state and to maintain an Alaska address or agent.
by Alaska News5mo ago5 min read
