Alaska voters head to the polls Tuesday to decide who will represent the state in the U.S. House for the next two years. The race features four candidates under the state's ranked-choice voting system, with Republican incumbent Nick Begich seeking a second full term after narrowly defeating Democrat Mary Peltola in 2024. Peltola is now running for the U.S. Senate, a contest that has drawn national attention and significant GOP spending on recount preparedness.
Begich, who won the 2024 general election with about 51% of the vote, is facing a challenge from independent Bill Hill, who has secured the backing of the Alaska Democratic Party and the House Democrats' campaign arm. Also on the ballot are Democrat Eric Hafner and Libertarian Jim McDermott, though their primary showings were minimal.
In the August primary, Begich led the field with nearly 45% of the vote. Hill came in second with just under 33%, while Hafner and McDermott each received around 3% and 1%, respectively. Several other Democratic and Republican candidates who polled higher than Hafner and McDermott dropped out after the primary, leaving the four-way general election lineup.
Hill's candidacy is notable because he is running as an independent but has the explicit support of the state Democratic Party. That backing could consolidate left-leaning voters behind him, though ranked-choice voting means second and third preferences will matter if no candidate clears 50% on the first count.
Begich's campaign has emphasized his work on energy policy and his opposition to federal overreach, while Hill has focused on healthcare access and economic fairness. The race is one of several midterm contests unfolding amid a broader political climate that has some Republicans worried about a potential wipeout, as GOP strategists warn about voter frustration over the economy and other issues.
Election officials across the country are on high alert, with the Justice Department deploying a record number of monitors to polling places nationwide, including Alaska. The unprecedented federal oversight is part of an effort to ensure voting access and integrity, though it has drawn criticism from some state officials.
Alaska's ranked-choice system, which was adopted by ballot measure in 2020, has been the subject of ongoing legal and political battles. In the 2024 Senate race, the GOP established a recount fund amid legal challenges, a sign of how contentious elections in the state have become. This year's House race is likely to follow a similar pattern if the margin is close.
Polls close at midnight Eastern Time, and initial results are expected shortly thereafter. Under ranked-choice voting, if no candidate receives a majority on the first tally, the lowest vote-getter is eliminated and their ballots are redistributed to the remaining candidates based on voters' second choices. This process continues until a candidate reaches 50% plus one.
Political analysts will be watching whether Hill can pull enough support from Hafner and McDermott voters to overtake Begich, who remains the favorite given his incumbency and the state's Republican lean. However, the presence of a Democrat and a Libertarian could split the anti-Begich vote in unexpected ways, making the ranked-choice rounds crucial.
For voters, the election comes at a time of heightened scrutiny on election administration. The threat of prosecution for noncitizen voting has been a talking point for some officials, even as such cases are rare. Meanwhile, the economy is a dominant concern, with gas prices hitting a record high on Election Day, a factor that could influence voter sentiment in Alaska, where energy costs are a perennial issue.
