Alaska House of Representatives District 40
Alaska House of Representatives District 40 is represented by Robyn Burke (D).
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
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] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $84,000/year | $307/day |
Vacancies
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]
See sources: Alaska Stat. §15.40.320
District map
Redistricting
2020 redistricting cycle
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 40
before 2020 redistricting cycle
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Alaska House of Representatives District 40
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 40
The ranked-choice voting election was won by Robyn Burke in round 1 .
|
Total votes: 3,032 |
|||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 40
Saima Chase, Robyn Burke, and incumbent Thomas Baker advanced from the primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 40 on August 20, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Saima Chase (D) | 35.6 | 345 | |
| ✔ |  | Robyn Burke (D) | 35.3 | 342 |
| ✔ |  | Thomas Baker (Undeclared) | 29.0 | 281 |
| Total votes: 968 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2022
General election
General election for Alaska House of Representatives District 40
The ranked-choice voting election was won by Josiah Patkotak in round 1 .
|
Total votes: 2,412 |
|||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 40
Incumbent Josiah Patkotak advanced from the primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 40 on August 16, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Josiah Patkotak (Independent) | 100.0 | 917 |
| Total votes: 917 | |||
| = 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
General election
General election for Alaska House of Representatives District 40
Josiah Patkotak defeated Elizabeth Ferguson in the general election for Alaska House of Representatives District 40 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Josiah Patkotak (Independent) | 52.1 | 2,292 |
| Elizabeth Ferguson (D) | 47.5 | 2,086 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 18 | ||
| Total votes: 4,396 | |||
| = 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
- Ely Cyrus (Independent)
- Bob Harcharek (Independent)
Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary election
Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 40
Elizabeth Ferguson advanced from the Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 40 on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Elizabeth Ferguson | 100.0 | 975 | |
| Total votes: 975 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = 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 40
Incumbent John Lincoln defeated Patrick Savok and Leanna Mack in the general election for Alaska House of Representatives District 40 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | John Lincoln (D) | 59.8 | 2,404 | |
| Patrick Savok (Nonpartisan) | 21.8 | 878 | ||
| Leanna Mack (D) | 17.7 | 711 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 29 | ||
| Total votes: 4,022 | |||
| = 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 40
Incumbent John Lincoln advanced from the Alaska Democratic, Libertarian, and Independence parties primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 40 on August 21, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | John Lincoln | 100.0 | 930 | |
| Total votes: 930 | |||
| = 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
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.
Dean Westlake ran unopposed in the Alaska House of Representatives District 40 general election.[11][12]
| Alaska House of Representatives, District 40 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic |  Dean Westlake (unopposed) | |
| Source: Alaska Secretary of State | ||
Dean Westlake defeated incumbent Benjamin P. Nageak in the Alaska House of Representatives District 40 Democratic Primary.[13][14]
| Alaska House of Representatives, District 40 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Dean Westlake |
50.24% | 825 | |
| Democratic | Benjamin P. Nageak Incumbent | 49.76% | 817 | |
| Total Votes | 1,642 | |||
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. Incumbent Benjamin P. "Bennie" Nageak defeated Dean Westlake in the Democratic primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[15][16][17][18]
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Bennie Nageak Incumbent |
53.2% | 1,104 |
| Dean Westlake | 46.8% | 973 |
| Total Votes | 2,077 | |
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. Benjamin Nageak defeated Adeline Hopson, Robert Nelson and Greta Schuerch in the August 28 Democratic primary before defeating a write-in candidate in the general election.[19][20][21]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Benjamin P. Nageak |
95.9% | 3,444 | |
| Write-in | Write-in | 4.1% | 147 | |
| Total Votes | 3,591 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Benjamin Nageak |
36.1% | 714 |
| Greta Schuerch | 32.8% | 650 |
| Robert Nelson | 25.3% | 501 |
| Adeline Hopson | 5.8% | 114 |
| Total Votes | 1,979 | |
Campaign contributions
From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Alaska House of Representatives District 40 raised a total of $565,563. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $22,623 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, Alaska House of Representatives District 40 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2024 | $116,722 | 3 | $38,907 |
| 2022 | $15,350 | 1 | $15,350 |
| 2020 | $71,958 | 2 | $35,979 |
| 2018 | $57,779 | 3 | $19,260 |
| 2016 | $71,378 | 2 | $35,689 |
| 2014 | $32,147 | 2 | $16,074 |
| 2012 | $49,866 | 5 | $9,973 |
| 2010 | $23,234 | 1 | $23,234 |
| 2008 | $22,276 | 1 | $22,276 |
| 2006 | $30,773 | 1 | $30,773 |
| 2004 | $23,232 | 1 | $23,232 |
| 2002 | $17,554 | 1 | $17,554 |
| 2000 | $33,293 | 2 | $16,647 |
| Total | $565,563 | 25 | $22,623 |
See also
- Alaska State Legislature
- Alaska State Senate
- Alaska House of Representatives
- Alaska state legislative districts
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ JUSTIA US Law, "Alaska Statutes, Sec. 24.05.080," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑ Alaska’s Constitution, "A Citizen’s Guide," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑ Office of Lt. Governor, "The Constitution of the State of Alaska - Article II – The Legislature," accessed May 21, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Alaska State Legislature, " Sec. 15.40.320. Condition and time for filling vacancy by appointment," accessed February 8, 2021 (Statute 15.40.320)
- ↑ Alaska Redistricting Board, "2023 May Final Proclamation," accessed March 20, 2025
- ↑ The Midnight Sun, "'I pray litigation is swift and just.' Redistricting Board finalizes plan with attempted dig at dissenters," Nov. 10, 2021
- ↑ Alaska Supreme Court, "In the Matter of the 2021 Redistricting Cases," March 25, 2022
- ↑ Alaska Redistricting Board, "Amended Proclamation of Redistricting," April 13, 2022
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 All About Redistricting, "Alaska," accessed April 17, 2015
- ↑ State of Alaska Division of Elections, "November 8, 2016 General Election Candidate List," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ Alaska Secretary of State, "General Election Official Results 2016," accessed December 2, 2016
- ↑ State of Alaska Division of Elections, "August 16, 2016 Primary Candidate List," accessed June 8, 2016
- ↑ State of Alaska Division of Elections, "2016 Primary Election results," accessed September 12, 2016
- ↑ Alaska Secretary of State, "Official primary candidate list," accessed June 4, 2014
- ↑ Alaska Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed January 1, 2015
- ↑ Alaska Secretary of State, "Official general election candidate list," accessed September 11, 2014
- ↑ Alaska Secretary of State, "Official General Election Results," accessed November 25, 2014
- ↑ Alaska Division of Elections, "August 28, 2012 Primary Candidate List," November 29, 2013
- ↑ Alaska Division of Elections, "Official 2012 Primary Results," November 29, 2013
- ↑ Alaska Election Division, "Election Results 2012," November 16, 2012
