Several incumbent Alaska lawmakers are trailing in preliminary election results

Preliminary election results Tuesday night showed several incumbent Alaska lawmakers trailing their challengers.

At stake is control of the House and Senate, which could have significant implications for the types of bills that become law and the way the Legislature works with Gov. Mike Dunleavy. This year, coalition-aligned candidates had a significant advantage in fundraising.

Legislative candidates across Alaska say education has been an important issue in this election, especially after lawmakers failed by one vote in March to override Dunleavy's veto of a bipartisan school funding bill.

Candidates say other key issues include potentially reinstating a pension for public employees and teachers, addressing a looming shortage of Cook Inlet natural gas that could lead to rising electricity and heating costs, and reforming the state's election system belonged.

Tens of thousands of ballots remain to be counted, and the results could shift as mail-in ballots continue to arrive at the elections department to be counted.

The house

The State House is currently governed by a Republican-led majority. Four non-Republican representatives representing districts in rural Alaska are part of the current Republican majority.

Key House lawmakers said Tuesday that a majority would likely only emerge after backroom negotiations among lawmakers.

Preliminary results as of 11 p.m. Tuesday night showed four incumbent lawmakers trailing their challengers and several key races too close to call:

• Anchorage Democratic Rep. Cliff Groh, a member of the bipartisan minority in the House, narrowly edged his opponent, former Republican Rep. David Nelson, for a seat in North Anchorage. With all five counties reporting results, Groh was ahead by 21 votes.

• Rep. Craig Johnson, a South Anchorage Republican, trailed well behind former Rep. Chuck Kopp, a fellow Republican. Kopp was in the lead with 61% of the vote, with all six counties reporting results.

• Rep. Stanley Wright, a Republican who represents North Muldoon, trailed Democratic challenger Ted Eischeid with all four counties reporting results. Wright had 48% compared to Eischeid's 52%.

• Independent Ky Holland was ahead of Republican Lucy Bauer for an open seat in South Anchorage. Holland had 56% against Bauer with 44% of the vote. Eight out of nine districts had reported results.

The Senate

Alaska's 20-seat Senate is currently governed by a 17-member bipartisan supermajority that includes nine Democrats and eight Republicans. A bipartisan majority is expected to return to power in the Senate next year, but the election could shift the balance of power between Democrats and Republicans.

Kodiak Republican Senate President Gary Stevens said Tuesday that he expects a Senate majority will be determined Wednesday. Preliminary figures as of 11 p.m. suggested mixed results for coalition members.

• Wasilla Republican Sen. David Wilson, a member of the majority, trailed fellow Republican Rob Yundt, a former Mat-Su District member. Yundt had 54% of the vote, Wilson got 29%. Stephen Wright, another Republican, had 17% of the vote. Ten out of twelve districts had reported results.

• Fairbanks Democratic Sen. Scott Kawasaki narrowly edged his Republican challenger Leslie Hajdukovich, 50.27% to 49.49%. All eight counties had reported results for the most expensive race this cycle.

• Republican Sen. Kelly Merrick of Eagle River, another coalition member, had nearly 47% of the vote, ahead of her Republican challenger Jared Goecker's 40% and Democrat Lee Hammermeister's 13%. Twelve of 13 districts had reported results.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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