Alaska's at-large congressional district will see a competitive general election after incumbent Republican Nicholas Begich III and independent candidate Bill Hill advanced from Tuesday's primary. The race for the state's only House seat featured a crowded field under Alaska's ranked-choice voting system.
Begich III, seeking a second term, led the primary with 47.9% of the vote, while Hill secured 29.5%. Both candidates will move on to the general election in November.
Other candidates in the open primary included Republicans Ed Goldfarb and Clay Strickland, Democrats Eric Hafner and Yaquelin Reynoso, Libertarian John Foddrill, and nonpartisan contenders David Ambrose, Lady Donna Dutchess, David Richey, and Melania Salazar. William Schultz, a Democrat, withdrew from the race but remained on the ballot, finishing third in the primary vote.
Hafner, described as a federal inmate serving a 20-year sentence for making false bomb threats and threatening judges and police officers, was convicted in 2022. Dutchess has also run for office multiple times without significant support.
Hill, a lifetime commercial fisherman and member of the Dena'ina Athabascan native Alaskan people, has campaigned on a platform that includes Second Amendment support, tax cuts, and aid for police and first responders, alongside support for abortion rights and increased taxes on billionaires.
Begich III has prioritized unlocking Alaska's resources, advocating against a Biden-era rule that restricted oil and gas exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. His campaign platform also includes cutting costs, creating jobs, supporting Alaska's native communities, and securing the border. He serves as the Executive Vice Chair of the Congressional Western Caucus.