Candidates Advance in Alaska's U.S. House Race Following Primary

In Alaska's U.S. House race, four candidates advanced in the rank-choice primary held on August 15, 2026. Incumbent Representative Nicholas Begich III, a Republican, is seeking to retain his seat and will face independent candidate Bill Hill in the general election. The Associated Press reported that Begich led the primary with 47.9% of the votes, while Hill received 29.5%. Other candidates included Republicans Ed Goldfarb and Clay Strickland, Democrats Eric Hafner and Yaquelin Reynoso, Libertarian John Foddrill, and several nonpartisan candidates. William Schultz, a Democrat, withdrew from the race but remained on the ballot, finishing in third place. Hafner, currently serving a 20-year sentence for making false bomb threats, is noted for his controversial background. Hill has raised over $1.3 million for his campaign, primarily from individual donors. His platform includes a mix of conservative and progressive positions. Begich has focused on issues such as oil and gas exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and securing Alaska's resources.