Voters took to the polls Tuesday to decide who will be on the ballot in November, but the race is far from over.
The nonpartisan primary election determines the top four candidates who will advance to the general election on Nov. 5.
Polls closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday, with elections results scheduled to be certified by Sept. 1.
Education is at the top of Donna Brady’s priorities in Fairbanks. Brady said that she’d like to see legislators fund education and to achieve fairness and equity in education.
“The issues don’t seem to change, so we have to keep giving new people a try,” she said.
Rick Wilbur, of Fairbanks, said that lowering fuel and energy prices, property taxes and solving issues with education are the top issues facing Alaska.
Goldstream resident Alexey Gibbs said he’s concerned with slow economic growth, housing shortages and income inequality. Gibbs said that he’d like the government empower people so they feel proud of their nation.
Mary Shields, of Goldstream, said she supports Mary Peltola because Peltola respects others and doesn’t “bully” them.
“On the national level, I want someone who can get people to work together and not fighting with each other,” Shields said.
Elizabeth Hinkle, of Goldstream, sees resource extraction and resource management, such as maintaining salmon runs, to be top issues for Alaska. The top issues facing Fairbanks are funding education and maintaining local trails, she said.
North Pole resident Gene Smith said he wants legislators to truly represent Alaska instead of their own interests. “It seems wishy washy,” he said.
Sue McCarty, of North Pole, said she’d like legislators to focus on finding a sustainable long-term fiscal plan, energy, food security and the high costs of food, energy and housing in the Fairbanks area.
Early results favor incumbents
In the race for the lone United States representative seat, incumbent Democrat Mary Peltola led with 50.7% of votes as of 9 p.m. Republican Nick Begich had 26.8% of votes and Lt. Gov. Republican Nancy Dahlstrom had 19.9% of votes.
Republican Matthew Salisbury, nonpartisan David Ambrose, nonpartisan Samuel Claesson, nonpartisan Lady Donna Dutchess, Richard Grayson, Democrat Eric Hafner, Republican Gerald Heikes, Alaska Independence John Wayne Howe and undeclared Richard Mayers competed for the fourth spot on the ballot as votes came in.
In the hotly contested House District 36 race, early results showed candidates Fairbanks Democrat Brandon “Putuuqti” Kowalski, Fairbanks Republican Cole Snodgress, Glennallen Republican Rebecca Schwanke and Fort Greely Republican Dana Mock leading in the top four spots.
Most Interior state legislative candidates will advance to the Nov. 5 general election regardless of primary results.
House District 31 sees a rematch between Democrat incumbent Maxine Dibert and Republican Bart LeBon, who served in the Alaska Legislature from 2018-2022.
Two years ago, LeBon led the primary and was defeated by Dibert in the general election. As of 9 p.m. Tuesday, polls favored Dibert with 51.8% of the vote.
The House District 32 primary was led by incumbent Republican Will Stapp with 58.5% of votes, followed by Democrat Gary Damron with 40.1%.
Rep. Mike Prax (R-North Pole) was the lone candidate in House District 33 for the third time. He received 77% of votes cast.
The House District 34 race was led by incumbent Republican Frank Tomaszewski with 48.2% of votes as of 9 p.m. He was followed by Republican challenger Joy Beth Cottle with 43.1% of votes.
In House District 35, polls favored incumbent Democrat Ashley Carrick with 59.4% of votes. Republican Ruben McNeill, Jr. followed with 38.9%.
The Senate District P race saw Democrat incumbent Scott Kawasaki lead with 51.7% of votes. Republican Leslie Hajdukovich followed with 47.7% of votes.
In Senate District R, the primary results showed nonpartisan Savannah Fletcher in the lead with 46.5% of votes. She was followed by Republican Mike Cronk followed with 39% of votes, Republican James Squyres with 7.3% and Alaska Independence Robert Williams with 4.4%.
