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Alaska House of Representatives District 26

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Alaska House of Representatives District 26
Incumbent
Assumed office: January 17, 2023

Alaska House of Representatives District 26 is represented by Cathy Tilton (R).

As of the 2020 Census, Alaska state representatives represented an average of 18,402 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 18,038 residents.

About the office

Members of the Alaska House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subjected to term limits. The Alaska House of Representatives is the smallest legislative lower house in the United States. Alaska legislators assume office on the third Tuesday of January following their election.[1][2]

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

Article II, Section 2 of the Alaska Constitution states: "A member of the legislature shall be a qualified voter who has been a resident of Alaska for at least three years and of the district from which elected for at least one year, immediately preceding his filing for office. A senator shall be at least twenty-five years of age and a representative at least twenty-one years of age."[3]


Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[4]
SalaryPer diem
$84,000/year$307/day

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Alaska State Legislature, the governor is responsible for selecting a replacement. The governor must select the replacement within 30 days after the vacancy happens. Nevertheless, if the predecessor's term is set to expire or if a special election is scheduled to fill a vacancy in the state Senate before the legislature reconvenes, the governor is not authorized to appoint someone to fill the vacancy.[5]

DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Alaska Stat. §15.40.320


District map

Redistricting

2020 redistricting cycle

See also: Redistricting in Alaska after the 2020 census

Alaska completed its state legislative redistricting on May 24, 2022, when the Alaska Redistricting Board adopted a new map of state Senate districts at the direction of the state supreme court. In its ruling, the Alaska Supreme Court upheld a May 16, 2022, decision by the Third District of Alaska's Superior Court that determined that the mapping of state House districts to Senate ones was unconstitutional and ordered the Alaska Redistricting Board to adopt another proposed plan for pairing the districts. Click here to read more about litigation surrounding Alaska's legislative boundaries. These maps took effect for Alaska's 2022 legislative elections. On May 15, 2023, the Alaska Redistricting Board adopted its 2022 interim maps as final state legislative maps. The final maps were used in the 2024 elections.[6]

Alaska had initially enacted legislative district boundaries on November 10, 2021, following a 3-2 vote by the Alaska Redistricting Board. The three Republican-appointed board members voted in favor of the map and the two nonpartisan board members voted against it.[7] On March 25, 2022, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that one state House and one state Senate district did not comply with the state constitution and required they be redrawn.[8] The Alaska Redistricting Board adopted new legislative district boundaries to comply with the state supreme court's ruling on April 13, 2022.[9]

How does redistricting in Alaska work? Because Alaska has only one congressional district, congressional redistricting is not necessary. A non-politician commission draws state legislative district lines. In place since 1998, Alaska's redistricting commission comprises five members. Two commissioners are appointed by the governor, one by the state Senate majority leader, one by the state House majority leader, and one by the chief justice of the Alaska Supreme Court. State law mandates that commissioners "be chosen without regard to party affiliation." One commissioner must be selected from each of the state's judicial districts.[10]

The Alaska Constitution requires that state legislative districts be contiguous and compact. Furthermore, every state legislative district must contain a "relatively integrated socio-economic area." Each state legislative district is served by one state senator and two state representatives.[10]

Alaska House of Representatives District 26
before 2020 redistricting cycle

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Alaska House of Representatives District 26
after 2020 redistricting cycle

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Elections

2024

See also: Alaska House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Alaska House of Representatives District 26

The ranked-choice voting election was won by Cathy Tilton in round 1 .


Total votes: 7,607
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 26

Incumbent Cathy Tilton advanced from the primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 26 on August 20, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Cathy Tilton
Cathy Tilton (R)
 
100.0
 
1,681

Total votes: 1,681
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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2022

See also: Alaska House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Alaska House of Representatives District 26

The ranked-choice voting election was won by Cathy Tilton in round 1 .


Total votes: 6,623
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 26

Incumbent Cathy Tilton and Daniel Stokes advanced from the primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 26 on August 16, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Cathy Tilton
Cathy Tilton (R)
 
80.6
 
3,558
Daniel Stokes (L)
 
19.4
 
859

Total votes: 4,417
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2020

See also: Alaska House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Alaska House of Representatives District 26

Incumbent Laddie Shaw won election in the general election for Alaska House of Representatives District 26 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Laddie Shaw
Laddie Shaw (R)
 
93.0
 
7,387
 Other/Write-in votes
 
7.0
 
559

Total votes: 7,946
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 26

Incumbent Laddie Shaw advanced from the Republican primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 26 on August 18, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Laddie Shaw
Laddie Shaw
 
100.0
 
2,141

Total votes: 2,141
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018

General election

General election for Alaska House of Representatives District 26

Laddie Shaw defeated Anita Thorne in the general election for Alaska House of Representatives District 26 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Laddie Shaw
Laddie Shaw (R)
 
62.3
 
4,826
Anita Thorne (D)
 
37.3
 
2,886
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.4
 
33

Total votes: 7,745
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 26

Laddie Shaw defeated Joe Riggs and Albert Fogle in the Republican primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 26 on August 21, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Laddie Shaw
Laddie Shaw
 
44.9
 
1,078
Image of Joe Riggs
Joe Riggs
 
29.6
 
711
Image of Albert Fogle
Albert Fogle
 
25.5
 
611

Total votes: 2,400
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Alaska Democratic, Libertarian, and Independence parties primary election

Alaska Democratic, Libertarian, and Independence parties primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 26

Hunter Dunn advanced from the Alaska Democratic, Libertarian, and Independence parties primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 26 on August 21, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Hunter Dunn
 
100.0
 
804

Total votes: 804
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: Alaska House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Alaska House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 16, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2016.

Chris Birch defeated David Gillespie in the Alaska House of Representatives District 26 general election.[11][12]

Alaska House of Representatives, District 26 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Chris Birch 64.15% 5,141
     Democratic David Gillespie 35.85% 2,873
Total Votes 8,014
Source: Alaska Secretary of State


Bill Goodell ran unopposed in the Alaska House of Representatives District 26 Democratic Primary.[13][14]

Alaska House of Representatives, District 26 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Bill Goodell  (unopposed)


Chris Birch defeated incumbent Bob Lynn in the Alaska House of Representatives District 26 Republican Primary.[13][14]

Alaska House of Representatives, District 26 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Chris Birch 59.23% 1,149
     Republican Bob Lynn Incumbent 40.77% 791
Total Votes 1,940


Birch campaigned against the 83-year-old Lynn by saying the legislature needed "new energy," and asserted that the representative should retire. Birch is 65 years old. Lynn received backing from a new Alaskan political group, "Together for Alaska," but was not able to secure the victory in the primary election.[15][16]

2014

See also: Alaska House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for the Alaska House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 19, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 2, 2014. Bill Goodell was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while District 23 incumbent Bob Lynn was unopposed in the Republican primary. Lynn defeated Goodell in the general election.[17][18][19][20]

Alaska House of Representatives, District 26, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngBob Lynn Incumbent 66.9% 4,913
     Democratic Bill Goodell 33.1% 2,436
Total Votes 7,349

2012

See also: Alaska House of Representatives elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Alaska House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on August 28, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 1, 2012. Lora Reinbold defeated Kim Skipper and Larry Wood in the August 28 Republican primary before defeating Roberta C. Goughnour (D) and a write-in candidate in the general election. Goughnour ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[21][22][23]

Alaska House of Representatives, District 26, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngLora Reinbold 72.5% 6,903
     Democratic Roberta C. Goughnour 26.6% 2,535
     Write-in Write-in 0.8% 80
Total Votes 9,518
Alaska House of Representatives, District 26 Republican Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngLora Reinbold 46.1% 1,610
Larry Wood 28% 977
Kim Skipper 25.9% 902
Total Votes 3,489

Campaign contributions

From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Alaska House of Representatives District 26 raised a total of $1,137,844. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $31,607 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, Alaska House of Representatives District 26
Year Amount Candidates Average
2024 $34,654 1 $34,654
2022 $39,534 3 $13,178
2020 $32,183 1 $32,183
2018 $148,356 5 $29,671
2016 $158,630 4 $39,658
2014 $21,328 2 $10,664
2012 $162,105 4 $40,526
2010 $27,744 2 $13,872
2008 $30,810 1 $30,810
2006 $240,395 5 $48,079
2004 $85,058 3 $28,353
2002 $145,240 4 $36,310
2000 $11,808 1 $11,808
Total $1,137,844 36 $31,607


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. JUSTIA US Law, "Alaska Statutes, Sec. 24.05.080," accessed November 1, 2021
  2. Alaska’s Constitution, "A Citizen’s Guide," accessed November 1, 2021
  3. Office of Lt. Governor, "The Constitution of the State of Alaska - Article II – The Legislature," accessed May 21, 2025
  4. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  5. Alaska State Legislature, " Sec. 15.40.320. Condition and time for filling vacancy by appointment," accessed February 8, 2021 (Statute 15.40.320)
  6. Alaska Redistricting Board, "2023 May Final Proclamation," accessed March 20, 2025
  7. The Midnight Sun, "'I pray litigation is swift and just.' Redistricting Board finalizes plan with attempted dig at dissenters," Nov. 10, 2021
  8. Alaska Supreme Court, "In the Matter of the 2021 Redistricting Cases," March 25, 2022
  9. Alaska Redistricting Board, "Amended Proclamation of Redistricting," April 13, 2022
  10. 10.0 10.1 All About Redistricting, "Alaska," accessed April 17, 2015
  11. State of Alaska Division of Elections, "November 8, 2016 General Election Candidate List," accessed August 22, 2016
  12. Alaska Secretary of State, "General Election Official Results 2016," accessed December 2, 2016
  13. 13.0 13.1 State of Alaska Division of Elections, "August 16, 2016 Primary Candidate List," accessed June 8, 2016
  14. 14.0 14.1 State of Alaska Division of Elections, "2016 Primary Election results," accessed September 12, 2016
  15. ADN.com, "In GOP, 65-year-old Birch touts 'new energy' against 83-year old Lynn," accessed August 17, 2016
  16. ADN.com, "New political group backs legislative candidates who favor broad deficit-reduction plan," accessed August 17, 2016
  17. Alaska Secretary of State, "Official primary candidate list," accessed June 4, 2014
  18. Alaska Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed January 1, 2015
  19. Alaska Secretary of State, "Official general election candidate list," accessed September 11, 2014
  20. Alaska Secretary of State, "Official General Election Results," accessed November 25, 2014
  21. Alaska Division of Elections, "August 28, 2012 Primary Candidate List," November 29, 2013
  22. Alaska Division of Elections, "Official 2012 Primary Results," November 29, 2013
  23. Alaska Election Division, "Election Results 2012," November 16, 2012


Current members of the Alaska House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Bryce Edgmon
Majority Leader:Dan Saddler
Minority Leader:Calvin Schrage
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
Bill Elam (R)
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
Republican Party (21)
Democratic Party (14)
Nonpartisan (4)
Undeclared (1)