Anchorage Republican Rep. David Nelson announced this week he will not seek re-election to the Alaska House of Representatives, saying it’s time to focus on his future with fiancée Breanna and the life they’re building together.
“This was not an easy decision,” Nelson said in a statement. “Serving in our Legislature has been one of the greatest honors of my life.”
Nelson, who first won election in 2020, represented a northeast Anchorage district that includes Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. After losing to Democrat Cliff Groh in 2022, Nelson reclaimed the seat in 2024, but now Groh is running again, setting up what would have been their third matchup in five years. In a non-presidential year, the district tends to lean slightly blue, and Nelson’s decision signals a pragmatic turn toward life beyond politics.
He reflected on his years of public service and his connection to Alaska’s military community, where he also serves as an officer in the Alaska Army National Guard and has worked as a civilian employee at JBER.
“It was a privilege to serve the members of our Armed Forces and their families, along with the veterans throughout our state,” he said, highlighting efforts to streamline school enrollment for dependents, honor Hmong veterans of the Vietnam War, and address barriers to veterans’ benefits.
Nelson pointed to his signature legislation, the Military Family Employment Act (HB 125), as his proudest accomplishment. The bipartisan measure extended Alaska’s veteran employment preference to military spouses and Gold Star dependents, a bill later recognized by the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics as a national model.
“For the remainder of my term, I will be focused on finishing the work that I’ve started,” he said, citing priorities that include a sustainable spending cap, expansion of military missions in Alaska, and renewed focus on resource development and production.
Nelson closed his statement by thanking his staff, legislative colleagues, and the residents who first launched his campaign around a kitchen table.
“It started with ten people sitting around a table who believed Alaska needed a new kind of honest representation,” he said. “Thank you for believing in me, for trusting me, and for letting me serve.”
2 thoughts on “Rep. David Nelson announces he will not run for reelection in 2026”
This district needs a viable candidate to step up, Cliff Groh has shown he isn’t the one to represent it.
He can still serve in his district’s community council.
It keeps him closer to home and lets him stay connected to his district neighbors.
He’d already ran and served in an elected position.
Sorry but retirement is not an option and his fiancée is going to have to accept that. We need more Right leaning men serving their community not less.
His district needs more right leaning neighbors on their council not less representation at meetings. The nice thing about the council is you don’t have to go to Juneau you don’t even have to serve as an officer and still maintain an engaged and active presence by attendance making more time for family and employment.