Sen. Shelley Hughes announced Thursday that she is stepping down from the Alaska Senate to focus full-time on her campaign for governor, creating a second legislative vacancy in the fast-growing Matanuska-Susitna Valley.
“After much prayer, reflection, and many conversations with my family and team, I am dedicating myself fully to serving Alaskans in a new way,” Hughes said. “This moment is born of purpose and conviction. Alaska stands at a turning point, and we must choose whether to let opportunity slip away and a downward spiral begin, or to step boldly into the future, into our destiny – a stronger, a greater Alaska for all of us and for generations to come.”
Hughes, who represents the greater Palmer area, made her decision public on Nov. 13 after telling supporters the night before during a fundraiser for House Speaker Cathy Tilton, who is running for Hughes’ Senate seat in 2026. Her departure comes on the heels of Sen. Mike Shower’s resignation earlier this month. Shower, the head of the Senate Republican minority, left the Legislature to become the running mate for gubernatorial hopeful Bernadette Wilson.
With both Valley seats now unoccupied, Gov. Mike Dunleavy will be responsible for appointing replacements to serve until the next general election. Under state law, his appointments must be confirmed by Senate Republicans.
Hughes has served in the Senate since 2012, building a reputation as a conservative policy advocate on education, parental rights, crime, and economic development. Her decision to leave the chamber underscores the shifting political dynamics in the Mat-Su, where the governor’s race and multiple legislative contests are already reshaping the landscape for 2026.
Hughes, who has lived in Alaska since 1976 and has called communities from Hoonah to Bethel and Fort Yukon to Fairbanks, Seward, and now Palmer home, spoke about the state’s resilience, potential, and promise, underscoring that her campaign will focus on moving Alaska from “decades of stagnation to generations of growth.”
“As your Governor, we will unlock Alaska’s potential, responsibly and boldly,” Hughes stated. “We will return Alaskan lands to Alaskan hands, achieve affordable energy, build the infrastructure to power our future, empower responsible development of our natural resources, elevate wildlife management, tackle head-on our declining fish, unleash the wealth around us and beneath our feet, and—importantly—unlock the wealth within Alaskans themselves.”
She introduced her campaign team: Campaign Mmanager is Gerad Godfrey, who brings decades of statewide leadership, public service, and expertise from the Alaska Native community. Samantha Correia is the deputy campaign manager and a seasoned strategist with a background in national security, advocacy, and campaigns. The campaign team is also deploying regional directors across Alaska. So far, Hughes has named Niki Rose and Ofelia Morse as Anchorage co-regional directors, Tom Dients for Southeast/Juneau, and Eleilia Preston covering the Mat-Su, with Kodiak and the interior still in the works.
Hughes also has a large policy team made up of experts in various fields, meeting frequently, and a deep bench of volunteers who are working on three upcoming fundraisers. The Campaign Chair of Alaskans for Hughes is Michael Rose, who offers myriad legal and campaign experience and successes.
Her resignation is effective at 5 pm on Friday.
3 thoughts on “Sen. Hughes steps down to focus on gubernatorial bid”
She’s too conservative for Alaska.
Maybe one day if Alaskans turn to God and wholeheartedly follow Christ not a religion
Sorry to say this she is a bit too old. If she was more radical leaning then maybe her age wouldn’t really matter like in Clamon’s case.
Americans are distressed and they want immediate results that they are showing to vote for the one who’ll most likely get it even being wooed by the wrong radical like Mamdani to vote for someone they think will get results for better future for millennials, GenX, and GenZ.
AKGOP needs her to stay right here she is in the Senate.
you members of AkGOP you guys have no leadership at that Republican Anchorage office. From its staff to its district presidents, to its committee they don’t know what they are doing
A democrat Governor will finish the Job that Gov Walker couldn’t finish.
I reluctantly have to agree with much of what you say. Albeit I have known Shelley for years though and she is a high energy & youthful for her age. Yes she is likely one of the most conservative candidates. It is truly tragic the inroads and damage the Marxist leftists have made on our country and state. Entitlement is a massively powerful tool and a proverbial pied Piper. My hope is now in the conservative families having kids, homeschooling them or putting them in Godly private schools, and raising them right. They will be our future hope. Unless Christ returns beforehand.
Segway – I had to go to Anchorage today. Downtown, 5th Ave mall. Tragic and discouraging. I made my daughter go with me as I was not comfortable going to 5th Ave Mall alone. That really is unacceptable to not feel safe in broad daylight. In the 80’s I worked downtown. Walked all over. It used to be a lovely mostly safe city. We did have a nice time and had lunch at Fire Island Bakery, went to Second Run, one of our favorite stores. It would be so nice to enjoy trips to Anchorage again.
Glad she will be gone from State legislature. Hughes has been ineffective in work in legislation and won’t have anything to add to a run for an office such as governor. Its just a better way of saying so long and don’t come back!!
n’t