Candidates for Governor Dave Bronson, Edna DeVries, Adam Crum, Matt Heilala, Shelley Hughes, and Bernadette Wilson share what 2 executive orders they would use to protect life, their 5 life and liberty related priorities, and whether or not that would establish a new Office of Unborn Advocacy.
These questions were asked at the Governor’s Forum hosted by Alaska Family Council on May 21, 2026, moderated by Editor of the Watchman Joel Davidson. The forum focused on issues such as the right to life, school choice, Alaska Judicial Council concerns, Grand Jury rights, gender ideology, and election integrity.
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.
Below is the complete reprint of the slideshow presented in part 3 of the forum which consists of 3 questions asked and answered beforehand.
Question 1: Two Executive Orders to Protect Life
Q1: The Governor of Alaska is considered one of the most structurally powerful state executives
in the United States. If elected our next Governor, name the top two executive actions, not
legislative proposals, you would implement in your first 100 days to protect the unborn and help women facing unplanned pregnancies choose alternatives to abortion?
Edna DeVries
I would use an Administrative Order to set internal policies regarding life. Second administrative order would be Grand Juries
Investigations.
Adam Crum
Action 1: On Day One, I will establish an Office of Unborn Advocacy to give Alaska’s most vulnerable a dedicated voice across every state agency. This office will coordinate pro-life policy, connect women to real support and services, support and promote families, and hold government accountable to protecting life.
Action 2: The Office of Unborn Advocacy will also coordinate across government agencies to streamline, communicate and ease the burden on both putting kids up for adoption, and for supporting families that do want to adopt. This can lower the stigma for moms with unplanned pregnancies, as they will know that their child is loved and wanted.
Dave Bronson
Executive Action #1 – Launch a top-to-bottom review of state agencies to identify waste, improve accountability, and ensure taxpayer dollars are focused on core services and results. Require departments to report on efficiencies, spending priorities, and measurable outcomes.
Executive Action #2 – Direct state agencies to prioritize policies that encourage job creation, responsible resource development, and lower costs for Alaska families. Focus on improving the business climate and expanding economic opportunity across the state.
Bernadette Wilson
1) I intend to direct the Department of Health to launch a statewide public awareness initiative focused on maternal health, adoption,
foster care opportunities, and available support services for women facing unplanned pregnancies. The campaign would prioritize rural and underserved communities to ensure women across Alaska know what resources and alternatives are available so choosing life is
backed by real support.
2) I intend to order a full review of state contracts, grants, and administrative regulations to ensure taxpayer dollars are not used to
expand abortion services beyond constitutional requirements and court orders. My administration would increase transparency and
accountability by requiring regular public reporting on maternal health outcomes, adoption placements, foster care capacity, etc.
Shelley Hughes
I would issue an administrative order requiring schools to identify sensitive instruction topics that relate to values or culture. Schools would
be required to inform parents, and express parental permission would be required for student participation, ensuring schools recognize and uphold the fundamental legal authority of parents to direct the upbringing, moral guidance, and education of their children.
I will issue an administrative order to create an Office of Faith to promote faith-based initiatives, ensure Alaskans’ religious liberties are
upheld, and to empower faith-based groups and houses of worship to better serve Alaskan families. Engagement, communication, and
coordination with faith leaders across Alaska will make our communities (and our state overall) stronger.
Matt Heilala
My first executive order as Governor will establish full accountability by creating a Virtual Digital Twin of all Ratification and Review of
Regulation Change projects at the Department of Law. It is unacceptable for boards and commissions to draft and approve
regulation changes only to let them languish for months or years, or worse, disappear into the void.
Consistent with my strong support for the pro-life movement, including my testimony at the Alaska March for Life sharing how my own
mother courageously chose life despite pressure to abort, I will direct the Department of Health and Social Services to prioritize partnerships with crisis pregnancy centers and adoption services using existing resources. This executive action provides immediate practical support, counseling, material aid, and follow-up to women facing unplanned pregnancies so they can choose life-affirming alternatives.
Question 2: Priorities Pertaining to Family, Life, Liberty
Q2: Focusing on issues that pertain to family, life and liberty, list your top five priorities in order
of importance. Describe each item in your list in five words or fewer.
Adam Crum
1. Life begins at conception
2. Parents lead, government follows
3. Faith and family first
4. Freedom from federal control
5. Fathers matter. Build them up.
Dave Bronson
1. Grow jobs and Alaska’s economy
2. Lower costs for working families
3. Increase government accountability
4. Protect family and parental rights
5. Support safe and strong communities
Edna DeVries
1. Further Governor Dunleavey’s regulatory investigations.
2. Appoint commissioners with belief in God
3. Grand juries’ rights and duties reinstated
4. Install a faith-based office within Governor’s office
5. Remove all abortion funding within proposed budget
Bernadette Wilson
1. Tackle the drug/psychiatric plague
2. Education: fund students not systems
3. Audit/ DOGE state spending
4. Kickstart the private sector/economy
5. Awareness Campaign for unexpectant parents
Shelley Hughes
1. Marriage – the foundation of free society
2. Motherhood and Fatherhood – divine design for raising children
3. Parental Rights – preeminent right to transmit values
4. Religious Liberty – America’s birthright and fundamental foundation
5. Freedom of Conscience – no coercion against deep convictions
Matt Heilala
1. Defend Children and the Unborn
2. Fight the “Woke Mind Virus”
3. Champion parental rights
4. Defend individual liberties
5. Create Family Economic Prosperity
Question 3: Office of Unborn Advocacy
Q3: Kristie Noem, when Governor of South Dakota, created an Office of Unborn Advocacy within her Administration to proactively lead strategies on policy, litigation, legislative and community outreach to give unborn Alaskans a formal, dedicated voice in State Government. Will you commit to establishing a similar office if you are elected Governor? Why or why not?
Edna DeVries
This would not be my first order of business. I would use my administrative orders to
accomplish this without the legislature’s assistance. Limited government— let revival come to change people’s hearts.
Adam Crum
Yes, without hesitation, as I am a Christian and I believe every life is sacred, and Alaska’s
governor should govern like it. I am the only candidate to publicly pledge this when the
Alaska Watchman asked what candidates would do to protect the unborn. South Dakota
created this office and became the number one state in the country for fertility rate— Alaska
will do the same.
Dave Bronson
Yes. I helped found the Alaska Family Council and have spent many years supporting
family and life issues in Alaska. As Governor, my primary focus will be growing Alaska’s
economy, creating jobs, and making government more accountable, while continuing to
support policies that strengthen families and protect life.
Bernadette Wilson
To be clear, Kristi Noem did not create an entirely new government department to deal with this issue. Yes, I would support bringing on a pro-life advocate directly within the governor’s administration to monitor pro-life issues, which is what Governor Noem did. I agree with Governor Noem on these two points: expansion of government departments and bureaucracy is never the solution, and pro-life issues have been critically ignored and need to be addressed more aggressively.
Shelley Hughes
Yes, I commit to establishing an Office of Unborn Advocacy (or Office of Life) which will liaise with the Department of Law on behalf of crisis pregnancy centers, pro-life groups, parents, civil rights advocates, and houses of worship to help sustain and support pregnant women and babies. This office will highlight a critical issue and need, teach people their rights regarding life and free speech, and develop new pathways into education, healthcare, the celebration of motherhood, and the power of marriage in our culture. Life is the foundation of all these issues, and it is time that this most important issue gets front billing in our society with an entity that will help harmonize the work happening across Alaska in a synergistic way and result in stronger families.
Matt Heilala
No, I will not establish an Office of Unborn Advocacy. Protecting the unborn is simple and straightforward, as I have consistently stated in my public positions. Consistent with my commitment to shrink government size and headcount, I will advance these priorities through strong leadership and existing executive structures rather than new bureaucracy or special advisors.
