Election

Sen. Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage, poses for a photograph at the Anchorage office of the Alaska Division of Elections as he files to run for lieutenant governor. (Campaign of Kevin Meyer photo)

Anchorage senator will run for lieutenant governor

JUNEAU EMPIRE The race for lieutenant governor has a new contender. On Thursday morning, Sen. Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage, filed his application with the Alaska Division… Continue reading

Sen. Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage, poses for a photograph at the Anchorage office of the Alaska Division of Elections as he files to run for lieutenant governor. (Campaign of Kevin Meyer photo)
JUNEAU EMPIRE COMPOSITE Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, D-Sitka, left, and Rep. Jason Grenn, I-Anchorage, right, are two of the three co-chairs (with Bonnie Jack of Anchorage) of a new ballot initiative that targets legislative prerogatives.

New ballot initiative targets legislators’ per diem pay

Two Alaska legislators and a longtime Republican organizer are trying to prohibit lawmakers from collecting expense payments if they fail to pass a state budget… Continue reading

JUNEAU EMPIRE COMPOSITE Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, D-Sitka, left, and Rep. Jason Grenn, I-Anchorage, right, are two of the three co-chairs (with Bonnie Jack of Anchorage) of a new ballot initiative that targets legislative prerogatives.
In this April 2014 file photo, Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, left, speaks with Sen. Click Bishop, R-Fairbanks, before their Senate Finanace Committee meeting at the Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Meet Gov. Walker’s first big challenger

Five years ago, Mike Dunleavy ran for Alaska Senate and asked residents of the Mat-Su to kindly not shoot him. “Mike Dunleavy knows that Alaska… Continue reading

In this April 2014 file photo, Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, left, speaks with Sen. Click Bishop, R-Fairbanks, before their Senate Finanace Committee meeting at the Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Gov. Bill Walker and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott speak to the press after filing for re-election at the state’s election office in Juneau on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.

Walker, Mallott file for re-election

Gov. Bill Walker and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott will attempt to repeat the “unity ticket” in a second term. On Monday morning, both men filed… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott speak to the press after filing for re-election at the state’s election office in Juneau on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.

Ballot measures gather, one year from 2018 election

The 2018 election is a year away, but candidates are already starting to file for office. The ballot measures are coming, too. According to the… Continue reading

Paul Oliva is seen in an undated photo with a cat, Mishu. (Contributed photo)

This man is trolling the Anchorage municipal election, just because he can

The Alaska Public Offices Commission has never seen anything like it. Neither has Jerry McBeath, who literally wrote the book on politics in Alaska. In… Continue reading

Paul Oliva is seen in an undated photo with a cat, Mishu. (Contributed photo)
Rep. Lynn Gattis, R-Wasilla, left, speaks during a March 2016 meeting of the House Finance Committee. Gattis, who lost her bid for the Alaska Senate later that year, is running for lieutenant governor. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Second Republican enters race for lieutenant governor

A second Republican has joined the race for lieutenant governor. On Thursday, former Rep. Lynn Gattis filed a letter of intent with the Alaska Public… Continue reading

Rep. Lynn Gattis, R-Wasilla, left, speaks during a March 2016 meeting of the House Finance Committee. Gattis, who lost her bid for the Alaska Senate later that year, is running for lieutenant governor. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)
Gov. Bill Walker, left, and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott are seen at their 2014 inauguration in Centennial Hall. Mallott said Wednesday on KINY-AM that he and Walker are running for re-election in 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Walker and Mallott will run for re-election

Gov. Bill Walker and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott will run for re-election together. “We have both decided that we will run again,” Mallott told KINY-AM’s… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker, left, and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott are seen at their 2014 inauguration in Centennial Hall. Mallott said Wednesday on KINY-AM that he and Walker are running for re-election in 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)
Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, right, speaks in a 2015 Senate Majority press conference. Stevens, who has served in the Legislature for 19 years, is the first person to file for the 2018 lieutenant governor’s race. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Kodiak senator is first to seek lieutenant governor’s office

A two-time Alaska Senate President with 19 years of experience in the Alaska Legislature has become the first person to seek the lieutenant governor’s office… Continue reading

Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, right, speaks in a 2015 Senate Majority press conference. Stevens, who has served in the Legislature for 19 years, is the first person to file for the 2018 lieutenant governor’s race. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)
In this August 2016 photo, hand count team members Christine Niemi, left, and James Fowlkes count ballots at Centennial Hall from the state-wide primary election. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Trump’s request for voter info prompts Alaskans’ privacy concerns

Donald Trump wants it. So does the Russian intelligence service. After waiting one day, the Juneau Empire paid $21 to get most of it. In… Continue reading

In this August 2016 photo, hand count team members Christine Niemi, left, and James Fowlkes count ballots at Centennial Hall from the state-wide primary election. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Salmon defenders propose 2018 ballot initative, predict huge fish fight

Salmon defenders propose 2018 ballot initative, predict huge fish fight

A group of the state’s staunchest salmon defenders is proposing a ballot initiative that seeks to strengthen legal protections for Alaska’s fish-bearing streams and rivers.… Continue reading

Salmon defenders propose 2018 ballot initative, predict huge fish fight
The Alaska House of Representatives voted 22-17 on Friday, April 28, 2017 to allow Alaskans to register as voters on Election Day. House Bill 1 now goes to the Senate for consideration. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

If Senate agrees, new House bill would make voting easier

If the Senate agrees with the idea, Alaskans will be able to cast their ballots on the same day they register to vote. On Friday… Continue reading

The Alaska House of Representatives voted 22-17 on Friday, April 28, 2017 to allow Alaskans to register as voters on Election Day. House Bill 1 now goes to the Senate for consideration. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)
Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, speaks in the House chambers on Wednesday, April 5, 2017. Rep. LeDoux is sponsoring HB 200 that would establish a top two nonpartisan open primary election system for elective state executive and state and national legislative offices. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska lawmaker wants primary elections to be more like California

The chairwoman of the powerful House Rules Committee believes she has a plan to drive Alaska politics toward the center. Her Republican critics say it’s… Continue reading

Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, speaks in the House chambers on Wednesday, April 5, 2017. Rep. LeDoux is sponsoring HB 200 that would establish a top two nonpartisan open primary election system for elective state executive and state and national legislative offices. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Cash didn’t matter: New financials show magnitude of Parish’s win over Muñoz

Juneau apparently likes a winner. According to records released Wednesday by the Alaska Public Offices commission, Rep. Justin Parish, D-Juneau, raised $44,403.60 in his campaign… Continue reading