Anchorage Assembly Incumbents Hold Early Leads

Preliminary results show most current members ahead in municipal elections.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 4:55am

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of an empty Anchorage government office or meeting room, with warm sunlight streaming in through a window and casting deep shadows across the space, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation around the city's political future.The Anchorage Assembly's current political dynamics appear poised to continue, with preliminary election results showing incumbents and mayoral allies holding early leads.Anchorage Today

Preliminary results from the Anchorage municipal elections on Tuesday show that incumbents or candidates aligned with Mayor Suzanne LaFrance are leading in most of the Assembly races. Election officials had counted 42,094 ballots by Tuesday evening, representing 17.9% of the city's 235,398 registered voters. While thousands of ballots remain uncounted, the initial results suggest the Assembly is on track to retain its current composition.

Why it matters

The Anchorage Assembly plays a crucial role in shaping the city's policies and priorities. The composition of the Assembly can significantly impact issues like development, transportation, public services, and the city's relationship with the mayor's office. These preliminary results indicate that the current political dynamics in Anchorage are likely to continue, at least in the near term.

The details

In the District 1 race to replace outgoing Assembly Chair Christopher Constant, first-time candidate Sydney Scout holds a significant lead over Justin Milette. In the District 2 race covering Eagle River and Chugiak, engineer Donald Handeland is comfortably ahead of Kyle Walker. In West Anchorage's District 3, incumbent Vice Chair Anna Brawley leads challenger Brian Flynn. The District 4 Midtown race is extremely close, with Dave Donley ahead by a narrow margin over Janice Park. In East Anchorage's District 5, incumbent George Martinez is on track to win a second term, while in District 6 representing South Anchorage, incumbent Zac Johnson is leading.

  • The initial ballot count was conducted on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
  • Election officials had counted 42,094 ballots by Tuesday evening, representing 17.9% of Anchorage's 235,398 registered voters.
  • Thousands of additional ballots have not yet been tabulated, and more will continue to arrive by mail in the coming weeks.

The players

Suzanne LaFrance

The mayor of Anchorage, whose political allies appear to be leading in most of the Assembly races.

Christopher Constant

The outgoing chair of the Anchorage Assembly, who is not running for reelection due to term limits.

Sydney Scout

A first-time candidate leading the race to replace Christopher Constant in District 1.

Donald Handeland

An engineer leading the District 2 race covering Eagle River and Chugiak.

Anna Brawley

The incumbent Assembly Vice Chair leading the District 3 race in West Anchorage.

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What’s next

As more ballots are processed and delivered by mail in the coming weeks, the gaps between the leading candidates in some of the closer races could narrow, widen, or potentially flip.

The takeaway

The preliminary results suggest that the Anchorage Assembly is likely to maintain its current political alignment, with a majority of members supporting Mayor Suzanne LaFrance's agenda. This continuity could provide stability for the city's governance, but also raises questions about the potential for new ideas and perspectives to be introduced into the local political landscape.