Crowded field of 17 candidates running for governor in August primary

Seventeen people have registered as candidates for Alaska governor in this fall’s election, though the final slate won’t be set until June 27, the withdrawal deadline. The top four vote-getters will advance in the Aug. 18 primary.

The deadline to register as a candidate was 5 p.m. Monday, June 1. Former state Sen. Lesil McGuire and former Gov. Bill Walker, both running as independents, were among those who registered on the last day.

The field of candidates, which includes 11 Republicans, three Democrats and three independents, is especially large this year. Incumbent Gov. Mike Dunleavy is term-limited and unable to run for another term.

Unless they withdraw, all of the 17 candidates will compete in the Aug. 18 statewide open primary election. Voters will each pick one candidate, and the top, regardless of party, will advance to the Nov. 3 general election. 

In November, voters will rank those final four candidates in order of preference using ranked-choice voting. The winner will take office at noon Dec. 7 for a four-year term.

Current Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, a Republican, dropped out of the race on June 1, 13 months after she said she would run for the office. Dahlstrom had raised a relatively small amount of money since her announcement, according to preliminary campaign finance disclosures.

Two other independents, Jessica Faircloth and Gregg Brelsford, and one Republican, Bruce Walden, also declined to register as candidates despite filing preliminary paperwork. 

Because a gubernatorial candidate must have a lieutenant governor candidate as a running mate, the days before the filing deadline brought a flurry of announcements.

Former Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor, running as a Republican, announced businesswoman Candice English as his lieutenant governor choice. Self-funded Republican candidate Matt Heilala picked former Wasilla Rep. Jesse Sumner, a fellow Republican.

On the Democratic side, Anchorage Sen. Matt Claman picked healthcare executive Sarah Skeel, and former Sitka state Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins chose current Anchorage Assembly member Zac Johnson. 

If a lieutenant governor candidate drops out before June 27, the candidate for governor can pick someone new to replace them. If a candidate for governor drops out, the lieutenant governor candidate may replace them and pick a new lieutenant governor. 

The other candidates for governor and lieutenant governor are:

• Former Anchorage state Sen. Tom Begich (Democrat) with Lt. Gov. candidate Julia Hnilicka (Democrat).
• Former Fairbanks state Sen. Click Bishop (Republican) with Lt. Gov. candidate Greta Schuerch (independent).
• Former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson (Republican) and Lt. Gov. candidate Josh Church (Republican).
• Former state revenue commissioner Adam Crum (Republican) and Lt. Gov. candidate Robert Craig (Republican).
• Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor Edna DeVries (Republican) and Lt. Gov. candidate George Hightower (Republican).
• Organizer Meda DeWitt (nonpartisan) with Lt. Gov. candidate Christopher Steere (nonpartisan).
• Former Palmer state Sen. Shelley Hughes (Republican) with Lt. Gov. candidate Blake Gettys.
• Author Hank Kroll (Registered Republican) with Lt. Gov. candidate Tommy Nicholson (undeclared).
• Former Anchorage state Sen. Lesil McGuire (Republican) with Lt. Gov. candidate Elizabeth Rexford (undeclared).
• Angoon resident and former teacher James William Parkin IV (Republican) with Lt. Gov. candidate Ramadhani Greer (Democrat).
• North Pole resident Destry Payne (nonpartisan) with Lt. Gov. candidate Cliff Silvers (nonpartisan).
• Palmer resident Bruce Walden (Republican).
• Former Gov. Bill Walker (nonpartisan) with Randy Hoffbeck (nonpartisan).
• Businesswoman Bernadette Wilson (Republican) with Lt. Gov. candidate Mike Shower (Republican).

The Alaska Beacon is an independent, donor-funded news organization. Alaskabeacon.com.