Johnson, Stutes lead in Legislative primary races

Democrats ahead in governor, U.S. Senate elections

In what could be the sign of a blue wave in Alaska, Democrats lead in early voting results for the Alaska primary election held Tuesday.

Two Democratic Party candidates received 42% of the votes for governor and Democrat Mary Peltola holds a slight lead over incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan in the U.S. Senate race, according to preliminary results late Tuesday night.

People wave signs on Pioneer Avenue for Brent Johnson, Louise Stutes, Jonathan-Kreiss Thomkins and Mary Peltola on Primary Election Day, Aug. 18, n Homer. *(Michael Armstrong/HIP)*

Those Democratic hopes are tempered by a strong showing by incumbent Rep. Nick Begich III, a Republican, leading with 47% over nonpartisan Bill Hill with 31% for U.S. House.

In local races, Brent Johnson has a double-digit lead over incumbent Rep. Sarah Vance in preliminary results for the primary election. With seven of nine precincts counted for House District 6, Johnson, a nonpartisan candidate, leads with 55% to 44% for Vance.

Republican Party candidate Sarah Vance, left, District 6 Representative, campaigns at WKFL Park on Primary Election Day, Aug. 18, in Homer. The group also campaigned for Alaska Senate candidate Heath Smith and U.S Senate candidate and incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan (Michael Armstrong/HIP)

Republican Rep. Louise Stutes of Kodiak, running for retiring Sen. Gary Stevens’ Senate District C seat, has a solid lead over fellow Republicans Heath Smith of Homer and Carrie Harris of Anchor Point. With 19 of 21 precincts counted, Stutes has 48% to Smith with 40% and Harris with 13%. Stutes, a member of the Alaska House bipartisan majority coalition, has been running as a moderate Republican.

Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins leads in the governor race, with 22%, closely followed by Democrat Tom Begich with 20%; 283 of 402 precincts have been counted. In a crowded Republican Party field, Bernadette Wilson has 11% followed by Dave Bronson with 9%. Former Gov. Bill Walker’s hopes of getting re-elected have apparently been dashed, with 4% of the vote, ranking him at ninth overall.

In the U.S. Senate race, with 283 of 403 precincts counted, former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, a Democrat, has a slim lead of 47% over incumbent U.S. Senator Dan S. Sullivan with 44%. In third place is Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. of Petersburg, with 2%.

Under Alaska’s open primary election, the top-four candidates in each race advance to the general election. In the general election, voters will rank their top-four choices. If a candidate receives 50% plus one vote, they automatically win. Otherwise, the lowest-ranked candidate’s second-choice selections go to the other candidates until one candidate receives 50% plus one.

With 283 of 402 precincts counted as of 10:46 p.m., Ballot Measure 1 appears to have passed in an overwhelming majority — 71.93% of voters in favor versus 28.07% against. The ballot measure reinstates campaign contribution limits, formally repealed in 2022, for state and local offices.

Individual contribution limits per election cycle are now set at $2,000 for candidates, up to $4,000 for a joint governor/lieutenant governor ticket and up to $5,000 for political parties. Political party contribution limits are $4,000 for candidates and $5,000 for other parties or political groups.

This is a developing story and tallies will be updated as more precincts report results.

Preliminary election results as of 10:46 p.m.

Proposition 1

Yes — 86,347 votes (71.93%)

No — 33,690 votes (28.07%)

Senate District C

Louise Stutes, Republican — 3,271 votes (47.98%)

Heath Smith, Republican — 2,672 votes (39.20%)

Carrie Harris, Republican — 874 votes (12.82%)

House District 6

Brent Johnson, nonpartisan — 2,811 votes (55.37%)

Rep. Sarah Vance, Republican (incumbent) — 2,266 votes (44.63%)

Alaska Governor

Kreiss-Tomkins/Johnson, Democrat/nonpartisan— 26,252 votes (21.75%)

Begich/Hnilicka, Democrat — 23,768 votes (19.70%)

Wilson/Shower, Republican — 12,949 votes (10.73%)

Bronson/Church, Republican — 10,265 votes (8.51%)

U.S. House

Rep. Nick Begich, Republican (incumbent) — 55,822 votes (46.68%)

Bill Hill, nonpartisan — 36,944 votes (30.89%)

Matt Schultz, Democrat (campaign suspended) — 9,644 (8.06%)

Eric Hafner, Democrat — 4,518 votes (3.78%)

U.S. Senate

Mary Peltola, Democrat — 57,545 (47.25%)

Dan S. Sullivan, Republican — 53,533 (43.95%)

Daniel J. Sullivan, Republican* — 2,985 (2.45%)

David B. Leslie, Democrat — 1,327 (1.09%)
* No party affiliation listed on ballot, but Sullivan of Petersburg lists his party as Republican.

One response to “Johnson, Stutes lead in Legislative primary races”

JenL

August 20, 2026

Worth noting: If the top 2 Republicans for governor had not competed with multiple other Republicans in the race their percentage totals would have been significantly higher. Total votes for Republican candidates = 66,575. Total votes for the 2 Democrat candidates = 54,739. And this was with a paltry 22.21% of registered voters who made the effort to get off the couch to vote.
Same for Ballot Measure 1. Had this been on the November ballot it may not have passed at all. Fortunately it is likely to be challenged Constitutionally.

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