“I’m here voting because I think it’s important to participate in our local elections, and because I think that small-town elections, small stuff matters more than the big stuff, the big scale.” - Colby McMichael, an Anchorage voter who cast his ballot on Monday at the Midtown Mall early voting site.
Pacific black brant fly above Izembek Lagoon at Izembek National Wildlife Refuge on Dec. 27, 2013. (Photo by Kristine Sowl/U.S. Fish and Wildlfie Service)
By Yereth Rosen
A federal judge has overturned the land exchange intended to enable the state to build a controversial road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, possibly halting plans for construction to start in the coming weeks.
It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks. Alaska’s primaries may be over, but our work doesn’t stop here.
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U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, a Republican running for re-election, waves to a passing motorists on Aug. 18, 2026. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
By James Brooks and Corinna Smith
Early vote counting in Alaska’s statewide, top-four primary election showed no surprises in the state’s two federal races.
Kendra Arciniega and Alissa Nelson, in an axolotl costume, hold signs on the morning of Aug. 18, 2026, urging support for independent gubernatorial candidate Meda DeWitt. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
By Yereth Rosen
Under low, gray clouds that spit occasional rain sprinkles, candidates running for office in Alaska stood on street corners in Anchorage on Tuesday waving signs, rallying supporters and trying to win the attention and votes of passing motorists. Tuesday’s primary election activities continued what is a longstanding tradition in Alaska politics, with the major statewide candidates gathering in the largest city to make their final pushes for votes.
The Alaska State Capitol is seen on May 18, 2026. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
COMMENTARY
By Kaitlin Jade Armstrong, Anchorage Press
I was aimlessly scrolling through Instagram when I learned that Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, or JKT, had entered the governor’s race.
My interest was piqued — not so much by the announcement as the photo attached to it. Framed by a majestic Sitka mountainscape, JKT sports a blue flannel button up — classic Alaska campaign-wear. I took a screenshot, zoomed in, and squinted. Did he always have that beard?
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