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Alaska House of Representatives District 8

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Alaska House of Representatives District 8
Incumbent
Assumed office: January 21, 2025

Alaska House of Representatives District 8 is represented by Bill Elam (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 8
before 2020 redistricting cycle

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Alaska House of Representatives District 8
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 8

The ranked-choice voting election was won by Bill Elam in round 1 .


Total votes: 9,034
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 8

John Hillyer and Bill Elam advanced from the primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 8 on August 20, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
John Hillyer (R)
 
50.8
 
1,652
Image of Bill Elam
Bill Elam (R)
 
49.2
 
1,598

Total votes: 3,250
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 8

The ranked-choice voting election was won by Ben Carpenter in round 1 .


Total votes: 7,150
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 8

Incumbent Ben Carpenter advanced from the primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 8 on August 16, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Ben Carpenter
Ben Carpenter (R)
 
100.0
 
4,555

Total votes: 4,555
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.

2020

See also: Alaska House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Alaska House of Representatives District 8

Kevin McCabe defeated Alma Hartley in the general election for Alaska House of Representatives District 8 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Kevin McCabe
Kevin McCabe (R) Candidate Connection
 
81.4
 
7,533
Alma Hartley (D)
 
18.2
 
1,683
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.4
 
34

Total votes: 9,250
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 8

Kevin McCabe defeated incumbent Mark Neuman in the Republican primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 8 on August 18, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Kevin McCabe
Kevin McCabe Candidate Connection
 
64.4
 
1,807
Image of Mark Neuman
Mark Neuman
 
35.6
 
1,000

Total votes: 2,807
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 and Independence parties primary election

Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 8

Alma Hartley advanced from the Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 8 on August 18, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Alma Hartley
 
100.0
 
666

Total votes: 666
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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2018

General election

General election for Alaska House of Representatives District 8

Incumbent Mark Neuman defeated James Chesbro Jr. and Mark Fish in the general election for Alaska House of Representatives District 8 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mark Neuman
Mark Neuman (R)
 
72.3
 
5,126
James Chesbro Jr. (D)
 
16.7
 
1,184
Image of Mark Fish
Mark Fish (L)
 
10.8
 
767
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
14

Total votes: 7,091
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 8

Incumbent Mark Neuman defeated Andy Murr in the Republican primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 8 on August 21, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mark Neuman
Mark Neuman
 
75.4
 
1,903
Andy Murr
 
24.6
 
621

Total votes: 2,524
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 8

James Chesbro Jr. and Mark Fish advanced from the Alaska Democratic, Libertarian, and Independence parties primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 8 on August 21, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
James Chesbro Jr.
 
67.2
 
310
Image of Mark Fish
Mark Fish
 
32.8
 
151

Total votes: 461
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.

Incumbent Mark A. Neuman defeated Gregory I. Jones in the Alaska House of Representatives District 8 general election.[11][12]

Alaska House of Representatives, District 8 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Mark A. Neuman Incumbent 81.94% 5,753
     Democratic Gregory I. Jones 18.06% 1,268
Total Votes 7,021
Source: Alaska Secretary of State


Gregory I. Jones ran unopposed in the Alaska House of Representatives District 8 Democratic Primary.[13][14]

Alaska House of Representatives, District 8 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Gregory I. Jones  (unopposed)


Incumbent Mark A. Neuman defeated Mike Alexander in the Alaska House of Representatives District 8 Republican Primary.[13][14]

Alaska House of Representatives, District 8 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Mark A. Neuman Incumbent 63.46% 1,054
     Republican Mike Alexander 36.54% 607
Total Votes 1,661

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. Pam Rahn was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while District 10 incumbent Mark A. Neuman was unopposed in the Republican primary. Neuman defeated Rahn in the general election.[15][16][17][18]

Alaska House of Representatives, District 8, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngMark A. Neuman Incumbent 80.1% 4,689
     Democratic Pam Rahn 19.9% 1,168
Total Votes 5,857

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. Incumbent Shelley Hughes defeated Daniel Hamm in the August 28 Republican primary before winning against a write-in candidate in the general election.[19][20][21]

Alaska House of Representatives, District 8, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngShelley Hughes Incumbent 95.6% 6,183
     Write-in Write-in 4.4% 282
Total Votes 6,465
Alaska House of Representatives, District 8 Republican Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngShelley Hughes Incumbent 71.9% 1,813
Daniel Hamm 28.1% 709
Total Votes 2,522

Campaign contributions

From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Alaska House of Representatives District 8 raised a total of $890,368. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $26,981 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, Alaska House of Representatives District 8
Year Amount Candidates Average
2024 $40,534 2 $20,267
2022 $-240 1 $-240
2020 $46,775 3 $15,592
2018 $18,342 3 $6,114
2016 $29,773 3 $9,924
2014 $27,963 2 $13,982
2012 $53,718 2 $26,859
2010 $92,605 2 $46,303
2008 $69,687 2 $34,844
2006 $116,968 2 $58,484
2004 $219,660 3 $73,220
2002 $71,879 3 $23,960
2000 $102,704 5 $20,541
Total $890,368 33 $26,981


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. Alaska Secretary of State, "Official primary candidate list," accessed June 4, 2014
  16. Alaska Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed January 1, 2015
  17. Alaska Secretary of State, "Official general election candidate list," accessed September 11, 2014
  18. Alaska Secretary of State, "Official General Election Results," accessed November 25, 2014
  19. Alaska Division of Elections, "August 28, 2012 Primary Candidate List," November 29, 2013
  20. Alaska Division of Elections, "Official 2012 Primary Results," November 29, 2013
  21. 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)