Which party controls the state government?
Divided government
Alaska
Alaska's PFD was cut from $3,650 to $1,000. A ranked choice voting repeal is back on the ballot. Willow violated NEPA. 9,000 are projected to lose Medicaid.
Updated October 6, 2026. Every figure is sourced and dated.
- 6
- Alaska guides
- 55
- rules tracked
What November 3 Decided
Results as certified by the Secretary of State. Nothing here is a projection; each office reads "Not yet certified" until the state certifies it.
- U.S. Senate Not yet certified Dan Sullivan (R), Mary Peltola (D), Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. (R), Gerald Heikes (R)
- Governor Not yet certified David Bronson (R), Treg Taylor (R), Bernadette Wilson (R), Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D)
Who Runs Alaska
The Legislature meets next on January 19, 2027.
- Governor Mike Dunleavy Term-limited; the seat is open in 2026
- Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom Ran for governor; not on the August 18, 2026 primary ballot
- Attorney General of Alaska (acting) Cori Mills Appointed by the governor; the office is not on the ballot
- President of the Alaska Senate Gary Stevens
- Speaker of the Alaska House Bryce Edgmon
Who Votes in Alaska
An estimated 62.1% of Alaska's adult citizens voted in November 2024, plus or minus 4.1 points, against 65.3% nationwide.
- 740,133 Residents, July 1, 2024
- 536,000 Adults 18 and over (estimated)
- 521,000 Adult citizens (estimated)
- 408,000 Registered to vote (estimated)
- 324,000 Voted (estimated)
- 338,177 Ballots counted for president
Alaska
United States
- Voted
- Registered, did not vote
- Not registered
Shares of adult citizens. Registered but did not vote: Alaska 16.2%, United States 8.3%. Registered and voted are estimates from the Census Current Population Survey, November 2024 (Table 4a); the margin of error for Alaska's turnout is plus or minus 4.1 points and for its registration 3.4 points. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates. Presidential count: Federal Election Commission, from each state's certified canvass.
Donald Trump carried Alaska by 13.1 points in the certified count, 184,458 votes to 140,026.
Your Alaska Rules
The answers people look up first, chosen by search demand from our 50-state datasets. Each is dated and links to the source and to every state's answer.
- What is Alaska's minimum wage? $14.00 an hour $12.00 to $14.99
- Does Alaska give homeowners a homestead exemption? Only where local governments choose Programs the Lincoln Institute lists: Local Option Exemption for Special Assessments.
- Do you need an ID to vote in person in Alaska? ID requested, photo not needed, with a fallback Without ID: A poll worker who knows you can waive the ID rule. Otherwise you vote a questioned ballot.
- How far into pregnancy is abortion legal? No gestational limit Legal; no gestational limit.
- Does Alaska tax income, and at what rate? No tax on wages or other individual income No income tax
- How much support does Christian nationalism have in Alaska? 42% support 38% to 44%
How Alaska Ranks
Alaska is one of 9 states with no income tax on wages in 2026, according to the Tax Foundation.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 3.07% |
| Louisiana | 3% |
| Indiana | 2.95% |
| Ohio | 2.75% |
| Arizona | 2.5% |
| North Dakota | 2.5% |
| Alaska (no tax on wages) | 0% |
Alaska and the states ranked just above the 9 states that share its value. Source: Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026 (February 17, 2026). Rates as of September 28, 2026; a state with no wage income tax shows 0.
Every Alaska Guide
6 guides to Alaska law and politics, each sourced and dated.
Elections and Who Holds Power
Your Money, Work and Home
Health and Safety
Guns, Drugs and Criminal Justice
Alaska Rules at a Glance
55 answers from our 50-state datasets. Each card shows when it was last verified and links to the source and to the Alaska guide or every state's answer.
Rule of Law (2)
Is marijuana legal in the state?
Legal for adults, up to 1 ounce
Legal for adults 21 and older
Voting (18)
When is the last day to register for November 3, 2026?
In person by Sunday, October 4
Deadline before Election Day
Who can vote by mail?
Any voter can ask for a ballot
Are guns banned at polling places?
No clear statewide ban
Do you have to prove citizenship to register?
No document required; you attest
Is ranked choice voting used or banned?
Used statewide for some elections
Who draws the congressional map?
One House seat, no map
Did the state draw a new congressional map for 2026?
No new map for 2026
Was the state covered by Voting Rights Act preclearance before 2013?
Fully covered until 2013
Did the 2024 presidential campaigns treat the state as a battleground?
Not a battleground
Has the state joined the National Popular Vote Compact?
Not joined
How many electoral votes does the state have?
3 electoral votes
3 to 9 electoral votes
Did the state gain or lose House seats after the 2020 census?
No change
Can voters recall state officials?
Yes, by a recall election
Where is the state's guide to running for office?
Ballotpedia, How to run for office in Alaska
Guide available
Who can vote in a party primary?
Top-four (one ballot)
Top-two, top-four, or other
Can a person with a felony conviction vote in the state?
Lost until parole and probation end
Do you need an ID to vote in person in the state?
ID requested, photo not needed, with a fallback
How many people in the state are eligible, registered and voted?
An estimated 62.1% of adult citizens voted in 2024 (plus or minus 4.1 points)
An estimated 60% to 69.9% voted
Immigration (1)
Is the state on the Justice Department’s sanctuary list?
Nothing in the state is listed
LGBTQ Rights (4)
Is gender-affirming care for minors banned or protected?
No ban, no shield law
Is conversion therapy banned for minors?
No full ban
Must schools tell parents about a student’s gender identity?
No forced-outing law
Does the state constitution still ban same-sex marriage?
Ban still in the constitution, unenforceable
Education (1)
Has the state restricted DEI at public colleges?
No statewide restriction
Healthcare (1)
Has the state expanded Medicaid?
Expanded Medicaid
Economy (8)
What is the state's minimum wage?
$14.00 an hour
$12.00 to $14.99
Can cities set a higher minimum wage?
No state ban
Can cities require paid sick leave?
No state ban
Is the state a right-to-work state?
No right-to-work law
What would the projected Social Security cut cost a retiree in the state?
About $443 a month
Projected cut at depletion
How much of the state's budget comes from federal money?
45.3% federal money
40% or more federal
Does the state tax income, and at what rate?
No tax on wages or other individual income
No income tax
How high is the property tax on a home in the state?
0.94% of home value, 20th highest of 50
Above the middle (11th to 25th)
Ethics (1)
How much does the state require lobbyists to disclose?
No compensation disclosure
Reproductive Rights (1)
How far into pregnancy is abortion legal?
No gestational limit
Civil Rights (7)
Does the state have the death penalty?
Abolished in 1957
Abolished
How does the state's civil forfeiture law grade?
Grade D+
D range
Has the state passed anti-protest laws since 2017?
Bills filed, none enacted
Does the state constitution name a right to privacy?
Named as its own right
Does the state have a consumer data privacy law?
No comprehensive law
How much support does Christian nationalism have in the state?
42% support
38% to 44%
Did the state ratify the Equal Rights Amendment?
Ratified by the deadline
Housing (5)
Can a landlord refuse a housing voucher?
Yes, unless a local law applies
Does the state ban sleeping outside in public places?
No statewide law identified
How much notice must a landlord give for unpaid rent?
7 days
5 to 7 days
Does the state give homeowners a homestead exemption?
Only where local governments choose
Is there a cap on how fast assessed home values can rise?
No cap in the Lincoln Institute table
Gun Safety (6)
Does the state have a red flag law?
No statewide red flag law
Can cities pass their own gun laws?
Broad state preemption
Can you openly carry a handgun in the state?
Yes, no permit needed
Do you need a permit to carry a concealed handgun?
No permit needed (permitless carry)
Does the state require background checks on private gun sales?
No, only the federal dealer check
Is there a waiting period to buy a gun?
No waiting period
Governor Mike Dunleavy is term-limited. Seventeen tickets ran in the August 18 top-four primary, and four advanced to a ranked choice general election on November 3 (Alaska Division of Elections). A measure to repeal that system is on the same ballot, the second repeal vote since voters adopted it in 2020. Our Alaska governor race guide and Alaska Senate race guide cover both races.
The state faces a $1.5 billion deficit. The Permanent Fund Dividend was cut from a proposed $3,650 to $1,000. The Ninth Circuit found the Willow project violated federal environmental law. More than 9,000 Alaskans are projected to lose Medicaid.
Fiscal Plan and PFD
Dunleavy asked lawmakers to follow existing statute for the 2026 Permanent Fund Dividend, which would have paid every eligible Alaskan roughly $3,650 and cost more than $2.2 billion. The House Finance Committee voted 6-5 to temporarily set the PFD at zero. The House later passed a budget with a $1,500 PFD.
The final conference committee compromise: a $1,000 PFD plus $200 energy relief payment. Minority Republicans voted against it 4-2.
$1.5 billion projected state budget deficit for FY2027
Dunleavy proposed a statewide sales tax (SB 227) at 2% year-round, rising to 4% during tourist season. Legislators said the plan had almost no support and was likely dead after one week of hearings. Meanwhile, Dunleavy introduced a constitutional amendment (HJR 30) to permanently lock the PFD formula into the state constitution, splitting the annual draw 50/50 between dividends and government operations.
New revenue projections make the math worse. A revised estimate projects 50% less state revenue from Willow than originally anticipated.
The Alaska Senate voted 17-3 to advance a constitutional amendment establishing a dedicated public education fund. As of that April 2, 2026 vote, it needed two-thirds of the House (27 of 40) to reach the November 3 ballot. Two school districts sued the state in January 2026, arguing that current funding levels violate the constitutional duty to fund schools.
Voting System
Alaska voters approved ranked choice voting and open primaries in 2020 by a margin of 50.55% to 49.45%. In 2024, a repeal initiative failed by the narrowest ballot measure margin in state history: 49.9% Yes to 50.1% No.
On December 31, 2025, Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom certified 42,837 signatures across 40 House districts for a new repeal initiative. It is on the November 3, 2026 ballot as Ballot Measure 2. Donald Trump has called for repeal.
The Alaska Federation of Natives endorsed the system, saying it gives Native voters “more freedom, more choice, more influence, and greater participation” (Bolts). The 2026 initiative would repeal the top-four primary and ranked choice voting, bring back party primaries, and also repeal the 2020 rule that large donors disclose the true source of passed-through money (Ballotpedia). Our Alaska ranked choice voting guide explains how the count works.
The August 18 top-four primary sent four candidates for governor to the November 3 ranked-choice general election: David Bronson (R); Treg Taylor (R); Bernadette Wilson (R); Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D).
Public Lands
The Ninth Circuit ruled in June 2025 that BLM unlawfully approved the Willow project, finding the agency violated NEPA by screening out alternatives without adequate explanation. The court remanded without vacatur, meaning construction continues while BLM rewrites its analysis. Willow sits on Arctic coastal tundra less than 30 miles from the Arctic Ocean, in an area that is 94% wetlands.
In December 2025, BLM approved the Integrated Activity Plan for the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, reopening nearly 82% of the reserve to oil and gas leasing. The plan largely aligns with the Trump-era 2020 framework.
ConocoPhillips is not stopping at Willow. The company has applied to extend ice roads and well pads farther west and wants to build roads south of Willow for seismic testing. If fully developed, Willow would release CO2 equivalent to driving 2 million extra cars for 30 years.
Willow capacity 600 million barrels, up to 180,000 barrels/day over 30 years
NEPA ruling Ninth Circuit found BLM violated federal environmental law (June 2025)
NPR-A leasing 82% of the reserve reopened to oil and gas drilling (December 2025)
Revenue shortfall New estimate projects 50% less state revenue from Willow than anticipated
Healthcare and Benefits
Federal work requirements under the reconciliation bill require most able-bodied adults ages 19-64 on Medicaid expansion to complete 80 hours per month of work or qualifying activities by December 31, 2026. More than 9,000 Alaskans are projected to lose coverage.
69% of Alaskans on Medicaid expansion are automatically exempt from work requirements
Roughly 69% of Alaskans on Medicaid expansion are automatically exempt: Alaska Native people, residents of high-unemployment areas, SNAP recipients, and parents of children 13 or younger. That leaves about 19,000 who must manually request exemptions or find qualifying work. State estimates project 50-72% of that group will lose coverage because of paperwork failures or unmet requirements.
Native Sovereignty
In January 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review Alaska’s challenge to federal protections for rural subsistence rights. The decision preserved federal authority over subsistence management on public lands and waters, leaving intact a Ninth Circuit ruling from 2025.
On October 9, 2025, Congress revoked the Central Yukon Resource Management Plan, a plan developed over a decade with tribal input covering 13.3 million acres. The plan had designated 21 conservation and research areas (3.6 million acres) and protected salmon-spawning watersheds. More than 130 federally recognized Alaska Tribes called for retaining the protections, citing the lands’ importance for salmon spawning and caribou habitat critical for food security.
Federal actions affecting Alaska Native rights (2025-2026)
The Interior Department separately reversed a February 2024 opinion that would have given Alaska tribes territorial jurisdiction over most Native allotments. Under the restored policy, the state maintains primary jurisdiction over Alaska Native-owned land, except trust lands of the Metlakatla Indian Community.
What You Can Do in Alaska
-
Check your voter registration. Registration for November 3 closed October 4. Confirm your status and polling place with the Division of Elections, and learn how ranked choice voting works before you vote.
-
Know the repeal initiative. Ballot Measure 2, the second vote on repealing ranked choice voting, is on the November 3 ballot. Read the measure text and decide before you vote.
-
Verify your Medicaid status. If you receive Medicaid expansion coverage, check whether you are in the 69% auto-exempt group or need to file a manual exemption before December 31, 2026.
-
Ask governor candidates for fiscal math. Four tickets are on the November ballot. Ask each one how they will close the $1.5 billion deficit, what PFD level they support, and whether they back a sales tax, income tax, or neither.
-
Contact your legislators about education funding. The Senate approved a dedicated education fund amendment 17-3 in April 2026. Find your representative and ask where they stand on it.
Contact Your Officials
Call your two U.S. senators, the governor's office, or look up your own state legislators.
Governor Mike Dunleavy (R) 907-465-3500
Your State Legislators
Every address in Alaska sits in one district for each chamber of the Legislature, and each district elects its own member. Enter your address in the Legislature's own lookup to see who represents you.
Chamber leaders
- Gary Stevens, President of the Alaska Senate
- Bryce Edgmon, Speaker of the Alaska House
All 60 Alaska legislators
- Bert Stedman
- Jesse Kiehl
- Gary Stevens
- Jesse Bjorkman
- Cathy Giessel
- James Kaufman
- Elvi Gray-Jackson
- Matt Claman
- Löki Tobin
- Forrest Dunbar
- Bill Wielechowski
- Kelly Merrick
- Cathy Tilton
- Robert Yundt
- George Rauscher
- Scott Kawasaki
- Robert Myers
- Mike Cronk
- Lyman Hoffman
- Donald Olson
- Jeremy Bynum
- Rebecca Himschoot
- Andi Story
- Sara Hannan
- Louise Stutes
- Sarah Vance
- Justin Ruffridge
- Bill Elam
- Ky Holland
- Chuck Kopp
- Julie Coulombe
- Calvin Schrage
- Andy Josephson
- Alyse Galvin
- Mia Costello
- Carolyn Hall
- Zack Fields
- David Nelson
- Genevieve Mina
- Andrew Gray
- Donna Mears
- Ted Eischeid
- Jamie Allard
- Dan Saddler
- DeLena Johnson
- Steve St. Clair
- Jubilee Underwood
- Elexie Moore
- Garret Nelson
- Kevin McCabe
- Maxine Dibert
- Will Stapp
- Mike Prax
- Frank Tomaszewski
- Ashley Carrick
- Rebecca Schwanke
- Bryce Edgmon
- Nellie Unangiq Jimmie
- Neal Foster
- Robyn Niayuq Frier
No legislators match that search.
Source: Alaska Legislature BASIS member service, read October 14, 2026.
Events
Show Up Locally
No In-Person Events Listed Yet
We surface events from civic organizations on Mobilize. Or send a letter to Congress from home.
Voter Tools
Voter Registration and Resources
Find Federal Representatives Use Congress.gov to confirm your House member and senators. Check Voting Rules Verify state registration rules and deadlines before the next election.
Don't see a letter on your issue? Text RESIST to 50409 to write your own to any official.