Alaska Family Council hosted a Governor’s Forum on May 21, 2026, moderated by Editor of the Watchman Joel Davidson. Six candidates attended the forum, which focused on issues such as the right to life, school choice, Alaska Judicial Council concerns, Grand Jury rights, gender ideology, and election integrity.
The candidates who participated were Dave Bronson, Edna DeVries, Adam Crum, Matt Heilala, Shelley Hughes, and Bernadette Wilson.
The forum consisted of four parts: 1) questions asked by the moderator to all the candidates; 2) questions asked and answered beforehand, presented on a slideshow, 3) questions asked by a candidate to another candidate; and 3) a series of quick “yes or no” questions.
Setting the tone for the discussion, moderator Joel Davidson stated, “We are looking for frank, honest answers. Something you’d share around a campfire.” The first couple of questions focused on the right to life and what the candidates would do to fight against the tragedy of abortion and forcing taxpayers to fund these tragedies.
Question 1: Chemical Abortions
Q1: What will you do, as governor, to both raise public awareness and hold physicians accountable when there are complications, infections, and hospitalizations associated with medication abortion?
DeVries, Bronson, Wilson, and Hughes focused on vetoing any budget appropriations that fund abortions, including medication abortions. Wilson added that she would also launch an education campaign to help women understand the dangers associated with medication abortion. Hughes stated that she would stand up to the courts and challenge the State Supreme Court’s ruling that the right to privacy supersedes the right to life for the unborn child. “Our Constitution does not support abortion,” Hughes stated unequivocally.
Crum talked about creating an Office of Unborn Advocacy focused solely on protecting the rights of unborn children and helping the women and families in these situations.
Heilala pointed to his work on the State Medical Board drafting a resolution that condemns third trimester abortion as unethical. According to Heilala, the law grants the State Medical Board the power to regulate abortion. The resolution was sent to the Department of Law where it would be considered and modified. It should then have been sent back to the Medical Board for final approval. However, Heilala said the resolution “vaporized” after being sent to the Department of Law. Heilala would get the resolution pushed through the bureaucracy.
Question 2: Medicaid Funding of Abortions
Q2: How would you direct your Attorney General or Commissioner of Health to challenge or narrow the impact of the Alaska State Supreme Court’s decision that state funds cannot be denied for “medically necessary” abortions?
All six candidates emphasized the need to fight the Court on this matter, agreeing that the State Supreme Court got it wrong. Wilson highlighted the need to bring in a strong Attorney General to fight for the right to life as well as the need to strictly define “medically necessary.” Hughes agreed that having a clear, limited definition of “medically necessary” is critical.
Crum stated, “We have to push back and continue to fight because it is evil.”
Heilala emphasized that he would launch a public awareness campaign about the abuse of the Alaska Judicial Council, identifying judicial bias and overreach as the core issue. DeVries echoed this, stating, “We don’t have equal branches… The judicial branch is wagging the tail of the donkey and is the whole donkey!” She called for impeachments of judges acting out of line with the Constitution and the law.
More coverage to follow!
