Former President Donald Trump was the surprise on Friday, when he dialed into the Fairbanks Lincoln Day Dinner and spoke to the crowd via the cell phone of Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who was in attendance at the Westmark Hotel gala.
The dinner, organized by the Republican Women of Fairbanks, is an annual event. This year’s keynote address was by Drew McKissick, the co-chair of the South Carolina Republican Party and co-chair of the Republican National Committee. McKissick is a nationally sought-after speaker, but nobody expected The Donald to make an appearance — except Dunleavy, who is a vocal supporter of Trump.
It was a room filled with Republicans from across the state, including House Speaker Cathy Tilton, Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, Anchorage Mayor Dave and First Lady Deb Bronson, Republican activist and candidate for party chair Carmela Warfield, congressional candidate Nick Begich III, Rep. Will Stapp, and Americans for Prosperity Alaska Director Bethany Marcum.
Also, state Sen. Rob Myers, Rep. Frank Tomaszewski, and Fairbanks Mayor Dave Pruhs were there, along with former Sen. John Coghill, former Rep. and current Assembly member Tammie Wilson, Assembly member Barbara Haney, mayoral candidate Aaron Lojewski, and ARP Finance Chairman Jason Warfield. Spotted was ARP vice chair and candidate for Chair Mike Robbins and wife Tatiana.
Senate candidate Leslie Hajdukovich was present and every time her name was mentioned, the room erupted with applause. She is running against Sen. Scott Kawasaki, who is a Democrat.
Sen. Dan Sullivan sent a video message, as he was overseas at the time of the event.
Although Sen. Lisa Murkowski was in state, she did not attend or send a message.
