Mat-Su Borough Mayor Edna DeVries filed a letter of intent to run for governor of Alaska.
“School of Government is on break until September. BIG ANNOUNCEMENT – I have filed Letter of Intent for Governor in the State Primary August 2026. I am the one candidate with proven leadership. Listening to people, caring for people and acting -Mat Su is setting standard for the state of Alaska to follow. Appreciate your prayers and thoughts. Blessings,” she wrote in a text message to her list of School of Government attendees. The school is a program that tackles political and social issues of interest to Mat-Su conservatives.
DeVries, born July 12, 1941, is the incumbent mayor of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. She was elected in November 2021 with approximately 58% of the vote in a three-way race against Matthew Beck and Bert Cottle.
A resident of Palmer since 1969, DeVries previously served as mayor of Palmer for over five years, and was a member of the Alaska State Senate during the 14th State Legislature. She was also the first woman elected to the Palmer City Council, and the first woman to serve as Mat-Su Borough mayor.
DeVries, well respected in conservative circles, will turn 84 in July. If elected in November, 2026, she would be 85 when she took office and 89 at the end of her first term. She joins Republicans Click Bishop (former state senator from Fairbanks), Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, and business owner Bernadette Wilson.
Other Republicans said to be in the hunt include Sen. Shelley Hughes, Revenue Commissioner Adam Crum, and Attorney General Treg Taylor, but none of the three has yet filed with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. The 2026 primary is scheduled for Aug. 18, 2026, which is over 400 days away. Others, including a Democrat, a Libertarian, and an Alaskan Independence Party candidate, are expected to file in coming weeks.
This has to be satire, right?
Thanks for the good laugh.
WOW, a voice from the past emerges. Once again it sounds like the Republicans are on their way to shooting themselves in the foot.
I appreciate the good work by Edna DeVries, but I think we need a Conservative who has a chance of serving two terms.
Edna may be a good candidate but at her age it is likely that she would not make it to the end of her term. I hope she supports Bernadette or someone else of the same mindset.
I appreciate Edna DeVries strengths, but we need youth and vigor to handle Juneau for long term.
DeVries is pretty spry and vigorous. I have no idea her age but she likely has plenty of energy. I myself am 64 and still running up and down mountains and lifting weights, as well as working and running a business. I don’t think Edna is that much older than I. Even 70’s is not too old if one is in good health. I am not saying I am going to vote for her, the verdict is still out on that race, but I do not think sh is too old. She is certainly smart and tough enough.
The article says she is 84 now, so will be 85 when sworn in, and 89 at the end of her term. 84 is MUCH older than 64.
Hm how about a dynamic duo:
Bernadette for governor and Edna for Lt. governor.
Best of both worlds, youth and drive combined with wisdom and experience!
Or the DeVries for Gov. and Wilson for Lt. Gov. DeVries has the work experience and history that could help Wilson grow into the job.
Very nice. But, no. Maybe Joe Biden was an indispensable (ha-ha) elderly man in executive office, but by age 80 the rest of us will be worn out, more or less. Retirement is not a dirty word.
Good person but we don’t need the female Republican version of Joe Biden.
Wow, she’s a Dunleavy clone, we don’t need her at all. Stay in the valley.