4 Special Coverage

James Parkin filed a letter of intent to run for governor on July 1. He is one of six Republican candidates entered in Alaska’s 2026 governor’s race.

The filing deadline for the 2026 elections is still nearly a year away. But Democrats in Alaska and Outside are anxiously awaiting a decision about which office Peltola will run for.

In posts on social media, supporters say they hope to put the issue in front of Alaska voters next year.

A local advocacy group gathered more than 2,700 signatures for each proposition within the city clerk’s office’s extended deadline. A third to make in-person voting the default again in Juneau’s local elections failed to get enough signatures.

At least one other member of the Alaska Senate’s bipartisan majority is expected to not seek reelection in 2026.

The proposed initiative sought to impose a five-ship daily limit, cap the annual and daily number of cruise ship visitors and shorten the season.