{"id":2645619,"date":"2026-08-16T06:58:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-16T10:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/everything-to-know-about-alaskas-primary-elections\/"},"modified":"2026-08-16T07:03:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T11:03:41","slug":"everything-to-know-about-alaskas-primary-elections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/everything-to-know-about-alaskas-primary-elections\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything to know about Alaska&#8217;s primary elections"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Feverything-to-know-about-alaskas-primary-elections%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2645619&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Alaska&#8217;s upcoming primary elections on August 18 are among the final key contests before the November midterm elections, featuring competitive races for the Senate, House, and governor positions that are drawing national attention. The Senate race is particularly notable as Democrats aim to flip the seat held by Trump-endorsed Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), with former Rep. Mary peltola emerging as the leading Democratic candidate. Recent polls suggest a close contest between Sullivan and Peltola, with the race classified as a \u201ctoss-up\u201d by the Cook Political Report. A unique aspect of this race is that two candidates named Dan Sullivan are running for Senate-Incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan and challenger Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher who entered the race citing dissatisfaction with the incumbent.<\/p>\n<p>In the House race, incumbent Republican Nick Begich III faces a crowded field of 15 candidates, including autonomous Bill Hill, after Democrat Matt Schultz withdrew. A recent poll shows Hill within the margin of error of Begich despite lower name recognition.<\/p>\n<p>The governor\u2019s race is wide open, as current Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy is barred from seeking a third term. Seventeen candidates initially entered the race, including multiple Republicans, Democrats, and independents, with only four advancing to the general election. The primary process in Alaska is nonpartisan, with all candidates on a single ballot and the top four moving forward, voting by ranked-choice in the November election.<\/p>\n<p>these elections are significant, with the outcome impacting control of the Senate and shaping Alaska\u2019s political landscape heading into the midterms.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/alaska\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"960\">Alaska<\/a> voters head to the polls Aug. 18 for one of the final primary elections before the November <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"11675\">midterm elections<\/a>, with competitive races for the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"8765\">Senate<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/news\/house\/\" data-type=\"category\" data-id=\"1250\">House<\/a>, and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/governor\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1155\">governor<\/a> drawing national attention.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s what to know before election day:<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4685395\/alaska-primary-elections-what-to-know-double-dans-several-candidates-toss-up\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Alaska primary: What to know before Tuesday\u2019s election<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4688861\/mike-johnson-contrast-for-america-tour-midterm-elections\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Johnson launches website to teach young voters about socialism and communism ahead of midterm elections<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4688800\/ro-khanna-vows-investigations-democrats-win\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Ro Khanna vows to bring investigations if Democrats win 2026 elections amid 2028 rumors<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<h2 id=\"h-senate-a-key-race-for-control-of-the-chamber\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Senate: A key race for control of the chamber<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Senate race is expected to be one of the most closely watched contests in the country. Democrats are targeting Trump-endorsed Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dan-sullivan\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4861\">Dan Sullivan<\/a> (R-AK) as they seek the four seats needed to reclaim the Senate majority.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Former Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mary-peltola\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"6029\">Mary Peltola<\/a>, who lost her House reelection bid in 2024, is the leading Democratic candidate and is expected to advance to the November election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A July <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/07\/01\/us\/politics\/polls-senate-control.html\"><em>New York Times<\/em>-Siena College<\/a><em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/07\/01\/us\/politics\/polls-senate-control.html\"> <\/a><\/em>poll showed Sullivan narrowly leading Peltola, 47% to 45%, putting the race within the margin of error. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Cook Political Report has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cookpolitical.com\/analysis\/senate\/alaska-senate\/alaska-senate-shifts-toss-column\">moved the race<\/a> into its \u201ctoss up\u201d category, calling the shift significant to the broader battle for Senate control.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h-the-two-dan-sullivans\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The two Dan Sullivans<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The race has attracted additional attention because two candidates named Dan Sullivan are running for the Senate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher from Petersburg, is challenging the incumbent as a Republican. He has said he entered the race because of his dissatisfaction with the sitting senator who shares his name.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs I look around Petersburg, as I look around Alaska, maybe even the country, I don\u2019t see great strides forward,\u201d he <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/alaskapublic.org\/news\/politics\/elections\/2026-08-03\/petersburgs-dan-j-sullivan-will-be-on-the-ballot-for-u-s-senate-what-are-his-policies\">said<\/a> recently. \u201cIn fact, I see a decline, and so I\u2019m using this as a way to voice that.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans have <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4627842\/judge-dan-sullivan-appear-alaska-primary-ballot\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4627842\">accused<\/a> Sullivan Jr. of being recruited to confuse voters and hurt the incumbent. Alaska election officials initially determined that his candidacy was not filed in good faith, but a court later restored him to the ballot.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Alaska Division of Elections lists the challenger as \u201cDaniel J. Sullivan Jr.\u201d and the incumbent as \u201cDan S. Sullivan,\u201d with the incumbent designation appearing next to the senator\u2019s name.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-house-begich-faces-a-crowded-field\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">House: Begich faces a crowded field<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With Peltola running for Senate, Republicans are defending Alaska\u2019s lone House seat, currently held by freshman Rep. Nick Begich III (R-AK), who has received an endorsement from President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fifteen candidates are running for the seat, including independent Bill Hill, an Alaska Native educator, former school superintendent, and commercial fisherman from Bristol Bay.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hill has emerged as Begich\u2019s most prominent possible challenger after Democrat Matt Schultz withdrew from the race in July.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A recent poll commissioned by Hill\u2019s campaign <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/thealaskacurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Hill-Memo-081126-v2.pdf\">showed him within the margin <\/a>of error of Begich, although Hill has substantially lower name recognition. The poll found 34% of voters had an opinion of Hill compared to nearly 85% for Begich.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h-governor-wide-open-republican-field\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Governor: Wide-open Republican field<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The governor\u2019s race is wide open because Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R-AK) is barred from seeking a third consecutive term. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Seventeen candidates initially filed for the office, including 11 Republicans, three Democrats, and three independents. Only four will advance to November. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Former state Sen. Tom Begich and former state Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins are competing for the Democratic nomination, while Republicans include former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson, businesswoman Bernadette Wilson, former state Sen. Shelley Hughes, and former Attorney General Treg Taylor.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4460164\/trump-endorsement-tracker-gop-2026-election-primaries\/\">TRUMP ENDORSEMENT TRACKER: HERE\u2019S WHO THE PRESIDENT HAS PICKED IN GOP MIDTERM ELECTION PRIMARIES<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With so many Republicans running, it\u2019s possible they could split their support among several candidates, allowing two Democrats to advance to the general election.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-how-alaska-s-primary-works\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Alaska\u2019s primary works<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alaska does not hold traditional party primaries for its major offices. Instead, all candidates appear on a single, nonpartisan primary ballot. Voters select one candidate, and the top four vote-getters advance to the November general election, regardless of party affiliation. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The November election uses ranked-choice voting. Voters rank the four candidates in order of preference, and candidates are eliminated in successive rounds until one receives a majority.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Alaska votes Aug. 18 in key primaries for Senate, House, governor<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2645620,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-collage-a6mflutxa-1781009379651-e1781009516902.jpg?1786560036&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[52920,40436,5894,38090,4351],"class_list":["post-2645619","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-alaska-2","tag-electoral-process","tag-politics","tag-primary-elections","tag-voting"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-collage-a6mflutxa-1781009379651-e1781009516902.jpg?1786560036&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645619","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2645619"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645619\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2645623,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645619\/revisions\/2645623"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2645620"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2645619"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2645619"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2645619"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}