Candidates file for 2020 elections

MAT-SU — Monday at 5 p.m. was the filing deadline with the Alaska Public Offices Commission for candidates to file for the eight open legislative seats representing the Valley.

Each district in the House of Representatives is up for election and Senate seats D and F are also up for election. The June 1 filing deadline for candidates begins a long schedule of voting this Fall. The primary election is Aug. 18 and the general election is Nov. 3.

Senate D

In Senate Seat D, incumbent candidate David Wilson has represented District D since 2017. Wilson is challenged by fellow republicans Bernadette Rupright, Stephen Wright, Thurman Loy, Chandra McCain-Finch and Huhnkie Lee. Thomas Lamb also filed as a nonpartisan and will appear on the Democrat Primary ballot.

Senate F

Senator Shelley Hughes also joined the Senate at the same time as Wilson, elected to Seat F for the term starting in 2017. Previously, Hughes had served in the House from 2013 until 2017. Hughes has no challengers in the Republican Primary, but Stephany Jeffers filed as an undeclared in the Democratic Primary for Senate Seat F.

House District 7

The race for House District 7 is unique among Valley elections this fall in that no incumbent candidate is running. Colleen Sullivan-Leonard had represented District 7 since 2016 but is not running for reelection. In the Republican Primary, Chris Kurka, Robert Yundt II and former representative from 2013 to 2016 Lynn Gattis have filed for the seat in the House representing District 7. No Democrats filed to run for election in House District 7.

House District 8

Since 2004, Mark Neuman has represented the Valley in the House for District 8. Neuman will be opposed in the August primary election by fellow Republican Kevin McCabe. Alma Hartley filed as a Democrat and will run unopposed in the Democratic Primary.

House District 9

George Rauscher has represented District 9 since his election in 2017. Rauscher is running for reelection against Lucas Howard in the Republican Primary. Democrat Bill Johnson is running unopposed in the Democratic Primary.

House District 10

David Eastman has represented the Valley as a Republican in the House for District 10 since 2017. Eastman is challenged in the Republican primary by Mat-Su Borough Assemblyman Jesse Sumner. Democrat Monica Stein-Olson has also filed to run for House District 10.

House District 11

DeLena Johnson has represented Palmer in District 11 of the House of Representatives since 2017. Johnson is challenged in the Republican Primary by Alex Fetta. Andrea Hackbarth filed as a Democrat and will run unopposed in the Democratic Primary.

House District 12

Cathy Tilton has represented a portion of Wasilla and Eagle River in House District 12 since 2015. Tilton is challenged by nonpartisan candidate Danny Gray who will be featured on the Democratic Primary ballot.

The filing deadline for candidates passed at 5 p.m., on June 1 and June 11 is the deadline to receive complaints about the eligibility of any candidate. June 29 is the deadline for any candidate to withdraw their name from the primary election ballot and the ballot will be certified on June 30.

Voter registration offices open on July 18 at 10 a.m., and on Aug. 3, Absentee in-person, early, electronic transmission, and special needs voting will begin. Aug. 18 is the day of the primary election and the primary ballot will be certified on Aug. 20. Nov. 3 is the day of the general election and information about candidates across Alaska’s 40 house Districts and 20 Senate Seats can be found at http://www.elections.alaska.gov/Core/candidatelistprim.php#SDB.