The second iteration of the Must Read Alaska Newsletter Question of the Week included five new names for potential Alaska gubernatorial candidates. The poll closed Thursday morning and results were announced in Friday’s morning newsletter (subscribe here.)
For the second list of names, Sen. Shelley Hughes of Palmer emerged as the strongest Republican candidate, followed by Kenai Borough Mayor Peter Micciche, Mat-Su Borough Mayor Edna DeVries. Former Rep.
Mary Peltola, a Democrat, was the lowest vote-getter in this unscientific poll that represents the conservative base in Alaska. She was also the lowest in popularity in the first round of this particular question: “Of the following, who would you like to most see run for governor?”
A notable difference between the two polls was participation enthusiasm. The second poll had just 413 participants, while the poll from the week earlier had nearly 600. About 30% fewer readers took an interest in the second set of names.
In the first polled list of names, business leader Bernadette Wilson came away with 44% of the vote in a field that had Alaska Revenue Commissioner Adam Crum, State Attorney General Treg Taylor, Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, and Peltola.
Question of the Week is a regular feature of the newsletter, which is sent three time a week. The newsletter goes out to 33,000 people and is typically opened by a third of the recipients, with the question posed in Monday and Wednesday editions, and results announced each Friday. The structure of the poll allows for just five options and has no “ranked-choice voting” scenario.
While this is a limited survey of views, it is a snapshot of where some of the leading prospects of governor in 2026 may stand with the activist super-voter base of conservatives, which makes up the majority of Must Read Alaska Newsletter readers.
Bernadette Wilson, who has been active in helping numerous candidates get elected in recent years, comes out the leader among a strong field of well-known politicos in the first poll; Shelley Hughes, in legislative office since 2013, does well in the second poll, while former Sen. Natasha Von Imhof performs the worst of any of the Republicans in either poll.
No candidate has yet officially filed for governor, although the people mentioned in these two polls have indicated they are seriously considering running in 2026.
Curiously estrogen rich poll choices. Sixty percent of the first and eighty percent of the second? Nothing notable there, eh?
I’m still none of the above.
Yeah, my pick would be David Eastman. We need a strong figure who isn’t going to cave to special interests or corruption.
I know he doesn’t “get along” with the “right people” but Alaska’s legislation is so lukewarm it’d make the church of Laodicea blush. Revelation 3:14-22
I’m proud of my senator Shelly Hughes, she’s ethical, moral, honest and a patriot who works hard for our district and state. She’s been my number one pick for some time.
She’s the absolute best. If she ran, I’d vote for her in a second. But I’d hate to lose her as a legislator.
Shelley Hughes. Hands down.
All I know is that Nancy Dahlstrom is a hard no for me. Thankfully Nick Begich was the one who went up against Peltola otherwise we may not have regained that Congressional seat.
I will cross red hot coals to support Shelley!
Again, to run an organization why woukd you want a politician?
An outside succesful private sector citizen.
The problem is the weak #AKGOP #GOPCOWARDS can not be trusted to truly back them.
I don’t want ANYONE currently involved with the AK GOP.
Yet another individual confidently anonymously informing the world what they don’t like but apparently clueless about they want.
Pick someone or get a hobby.
The author has listed all the airheads in the state. Alaska is becoming the reject state of all 50 states.
I like Mike Shower. Both Mike and Shelly have stood strong for their beliefs under horrible oppression from the Union Uniparty. Both would use the Red Ink Pen that Dunlevey was afraid to use, after he capaigned that he would. Mike and Shelly—MAGA in Alaska.
Absollutely Shellly Hughes and definitely NOT Nancy Dahlstrom.
Kenai Borough Mayor Peter Micciche Understands the way the state works and will get through the mess in Juneau and listen to the real needs of Alaskans and get the gas line moving asap🎯
Should we move the capital out of Seattle 🤔
Peter Micciche is a HARD NO WAY! Remember how he wanted to steal the PFD? Then claimed he learned his lesson and then did it again! Bernadette Wilson would be awesome!
Almost every name on the list for governor must be investigated for the cares act money and how they got their appointments after the corruption during the SCAM WITH COVID AND THE LOCK DOWNS. DOGE must investigate from Murkowski all the way down to the very names on this list.