Voters in some of Alaska’s state House districts may feel a sense of déjà vu as they head to the polls this year. From the Arctic to South Anchorage, several races for House seats are rematches from 2024 and, in some cases, earlier elections. One of these rematches is a contest in the farthest-north House district between two Democratic women. Rep. Robyn Niayuq Burke Frier of Utqiagvik is defending her seat against Kotzebue Mayor Saima Chase in District 40. Both women ran in 2024, as did incumbent Republican Thomas Baker of Kotzebue, who finished in third place.
In House District 39, which encompasses the Bering Strait region and a slice of Lower Yukon River territory, incumbent Democratic Rep. Neal Foster of Nome again faces Tyler Ivanoff of Shishmaref. Ivanoff ran against Foster in 2020, 2022 and 2024 under different party labels – as a Democrat who narrowly lost the primary in 2020 and as an Alaskan Independence Party member in the next two elections. This year, he is running as a nonpartisan, as is a third candidate in the race, Reynold Okitkun of Kotlik.
In South Anchorage, incumbent Republican Mia Costello and Democrat Denny Wells are facing each other for the second time in District 15. The district encompasses the West Dimond Boulevard, Jewel Lake and Campbell Lake areas. For Wells, it is his third attempt to win the seat.
Distric 40: Arctic rematch
In the nation’s farthest-north state legislative district, each of the Democratic candidates on the ballot have deep public-service experience. Frier, who is finishing her first two-year term, has a background in education. Before being elected to the legislature, she served for four years on the North Slope Borough School District board, which she chaired for two years. She was the secretary/treasurer of the Association of Alaska School Boards Board of Directors and has held other leadership positions.
career in emergency response and public safety. Before being elected as mayor of the hub city in the Northwest Arctic region, she served as the Northwest Arctic Borough’s fire chief and search and rescue coordinator. Her current day job, aside from her position of mayor, is as the emergency manager for the local tribe. She has served in other public safety organizations as well.
In 2024, Frier – then using the last name Burke, which she changed upon her recent marriage – topped Chase in a three-way general election, with results counted through ranked-choice voting. In the primary that year, however, Chase wound up on top by three votes. In this year’s Aug. 18 primary, Frier received 61.8% of the vote to Chase’s 38.2%. Frier and Chase are both Inupiat, and they have common positions on issues. The main point of separation is their place of residence – the North Slope for Frier and Northwest Arctic for Chase.
Earlier in Alaska history, the North Slope and Northwest Arctic were in separate House districts. Though both regions are majority Inupiat, they have some contrasts, some stemming from a wealth gap. The North Slope holds Alaska’s major oil fields, which generate significant revenue for local governments. The Northwest Arctic does not have oil fields. Its main industrial activity is at the Red Dog mine, one of the world’s largest zinc producers. The mine provides loc
