Republican Jessica Wright, who ran for Alaska House in 2022 but lost to Rep. Jesse Sumner, has thrown her name back in for the seat, with an official letter of intent to run for Wasilla House District 28. Already in that race is Republican Steve Menard, who ran against Sumner in 2022 and came in second.
Some politicos believe Sumner will pull his name out at the last minute and that he has recruited Menard as his choice for his successor. Sumner has served since January of 2023 and has complained that the time away from his construction business has cost him greatly. Sumner is running out of time to get his filing completed; as of this writing, only Menard is an official candidate for Wasilla House District 28.
Jessica Wright’s husband Stephen Wright, is a Republican challenger to Sen. David Wilson, also a Republican. Wilson serves the Wasilla area in Senate Seat N.
Another couple that is working the political odds are James Squyres and Pam Goode, both ultra-conservatives in the Delta Junction neck of the woods. They’ve both filed letters of intent, but have not indicated if they are going for the House seat opening up in District 36, or for Senate Seat R. Or maybe one will file for House and one for Senate and improve the odds.
On Wednesday, Sen. Click Bishop said he would not run for again this year and Rep. Mike Cronk of District 36 immediately announced he will file for Senate Seat R.
In 2018, Squyres ran for House District 9 [now mostly District 29, after redistricting in 2020]. Goode ran for the seat in 2014 and 2018, both running to knock out Rep. George Rauscher, who has managed to keep his House seat since beating cross-over Muskox Coalition member Rep. Jim Colver in 2016.
As of midday Thursday, Jessica Wright, James Squyers, and Pam Goode are still only in the “letter of intent” stage of filing. The filing deadline for the seats is June 1.
