Man imprisoned in New York advances in primary for Alaska's US House seat
Eric Hafner, currently serving a federal prison sentence in New York, has advanced in Alaska's primary for its lone US House seat, a result likely to trigger a new legal challenge over his residency.
A candidate currently serving time in a federal prison in New York has advanced from Wednesday's primary for Alaska's sole seat in the US House of Representatives. Eric Hafner, a registered Democrat, pleaded guilty in 2022 to making threats against police officers, judges and other individuals, and is not due for release until 2036.
This is not Hafner's first run for the seat — he also campaigned for it in 2024 and made it onto that year's general election ballot despite an unsuccessful challenge from the Alaska Democratic party.
The race's frontrunners remain incumbent Republican Nick Begich and independent candidate Bill Hill, a commercial fisher and retired educator.
Residency issue likely to spark challenge
Hafner's primary showing is expected to prompt another legal fight, since the US constitution requires House candidates to reside in the state they seek to represent at the time of the election. Filing paperwork with the state, Hafner listed a mailing address in Box Elder, South Dakota, and a New York phone number — both identical to those used by his mother, Carol Hafner. Neither appears to have any connection to Alaska.
Carol Hafner has herself run unsuccessfully for office before and this year sought the Republican party's — rather, the state's — US Senate primary nomination.
Under Alaska's top-four primary system, the leading four finishers move on to the general election regardless of party. With 93% of votes counted, Eric Hafner had received 5,757 votes, trailing well behind third-place finisher Matt Schultz, a Democrat. However, Schultz withdrew from the general election, making him ineligible to advance and opening a spot Hafner filled instead. Who will take the fourth and final spot remained too close to call.
