By SUZANNE DOWNING
April 13, 2026 – Rep. Sarah Vance, a Homer Republican already under scrutiny from conservatives over her support for a controversial election bill, is now taking her political fight into the public arena, and widening it to include both the Republican governor and a leading Republican candidate for that office.
In a recent Facebook post, Vance publicly prodded Gov. Mike Dunleavy over his top legislative priority, the Alaska LNG project, suggesting he should personally lobby lawmakers in Juneau. “Maybe, just maybe the governor should come talk to legislators about the project himself. You know, walk the halls and promote his bill. Just a thought,” she wrote.
The comment raised eyebrows in Juneau, where governors rarely, if ever, “walk the halls” of the Capitol to press legislation directly. It is generally considered poor form for the governor to roam the legislative halls. Frank Murkowski did it, but others have tried to be respectful of the separation of powers.
The public criticism also comes just weeks after Vance attended a meeting with Dunleavy at the Governor’s Mansion alongside other Republican legislators, where the gasline project was discussed. That makes her comment even more questionable.
The timing is significant. Dunleavy is widely expected to veto Vance’s election bill, which is now Democrat Sen. Bill Wielechowski’s bill, if it reaches his desk, and her public comments are being interpreted by some as a form of pressure or leverage, signaling that her support for the governor’s LNG agenda could be at risk.
Her election bill, Senate Bill 64, which passed the House 23–16, has drawn criticism from many conservatives. Vance was joined by two other minority-caucus Republicans, Reps. Kevin McCabe and Jeremy Bynum, in supporting the Democrat-led majority’s version. Meanwhile, speculation persists that the majority may delay transmitting the bill to the governor until after the next gubernatorial inauguration, potentially avoiding a veto if a different governor takes office. Names circulating in that context include Tom Begich, Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, and Click Bishop.
Vance has also turned her attention to the governor’s race, publicly criticizing Republican candidate Bernadette Wilson, who has been polling as a leading contender. Responding to Wilson’s call for a stronger Legislature, Vance wrote, “I’m not going to be quiet about this kind of negative attitude toward working with the people’s representatives,” adding that she was “not impressed with bully tactics.” Here’s the clip that Vance described as bully tactics:
For years, we’ve been told that we “just need to all get along.” I’ve watched bureaucrats brag about their ability to “work with each other.” It has FAILED US.
We tried it their way; now it’s time to try it OUR WAY!#BernadetteForGovernor #MikeShower @POTUS @realDonaldTrump… pic.twitter.com/4mANHEhlMX
— Bernadette Wilson (@Bernadette4Gov) March 19, 2026
That Vance characterization as “bullying” has sparked a lot of pushback from within Republican circles, particularly among grassroots voters on social media. Several commenters questioned Vance’s criticism of Wilson, arguing that the candidate’s remarks reflected widespread Alaska voter frustration with bipartisan caucusing practices that have given Democrats influence in the Legislature despite Republican voter registration advantages.
Others expressed concern about Vance’s broader messaging. Some longtime supporters said her comments were “disappointing” or “not resonating,” while others reiterated the need for Republicans to stop “handing over the reins” through cross-caucusing. Still others questioned why Vance would target a Republican candidate who could be the only conservative option in a ranked-choice general election.
The dynamic highlights a deeper divide within Alaska Republican politics between those who emphasize coalition-building with Democrats and those who see cross-party alliances as undermining conservative priorities.
Vance has defended her approach by pointing to Alaska’s late congressman Don Young, noting that he often spoke about the necessity of working across the aisle to get legislation passed. “Even Congressman Don Young talked about what it took to get bills passed and it involved working WITH other people,” she wrote.
Still, her recent comments, aimed at both a sitting Republican governor and a leading Republican gubernatorial candidate in a ranked-choice environment, mark an unusual public posture for a Republican who was once considered conservative.
Whether Vance’s strategy reflects a negotiating tactic tied to her election bill or a broader political shift remains an open question. But her decision to take the fight to social media is drawing attention and reaction from across Alaska. And it might not be the kind of attention she had hoped for.
7 thoughts on “Rep. Vance attacks governor on social media, then attacks Republican candidate for governor”
Wow, never thought I’d see the day where Vance became the same kind of RINO who she once replaced that wore the silly sailor’s cap on the House Floor… but here we are. Must be something in the water there in Homer!
Sounds like Sarah Vance is all butthurt over the BS election fraud she is trying to commit and that we all see right through. Mental illness is a sad thing, Sarah. Get help.
Rep Vance is like one of the Jones in “keeping up with the jones” since she lacks knowing who she is and she is uncertain of herself as a Republican or where she stands in the Republican circle that these FlipFlops are characteristic of her. I wish she’d just choose side. The problem with Homer Republicans is they straddle the fence one leg on the Democrat side and one leg on Republican side thinking peacemaker. But Just like Eastman and considering Homer and the lack of options the AKGOP should just put up with her not alienate. Pray she is more comfortable with being a Republican to be careful which Republicans she goes up against which Dunleavy and Bernadette are not R’s to be going against, they gen enough Heat from the left. They do not need R’s going against them. Remember this “WHEN THE DEMOCRATS HATE A LEADER THEN THAT LEADER IS LEADING RIGHT” Now if she go against Rufferidge, Stutes, Bjorkman, Stevens … they are Republicans of their region they need to be held to the fire they are deserving more of a social media rebuke by her to be challenged and they being held accountable
Her loyalty has a pattern of flip-flopping. first she is being a good Republican, a good team player, and we are cheering her supporting her and then months later or year later she does something like this and causes the Republicans to get confused. Angered, and upset. That kind of inconsistency is not good nor is it healthy behavior for herself and for the team
Furthermore Bernedette’s video is Right. She’s telling what Alaskans are talking about around their living rooms, the kitchen tables, and conversations.
We strongly dislike and disrespect all those in the legislature that includes the Democrat voters. Anyone who is voting everyone complains about the same thing and the policies and budget choices coming out of the legislature. Thr public hate them because the legislatures since 2006 have been making our lives more miserable and more expensive keeping us as a government dependent people and life and work opportunities on Alaska are getting more difficult People may smile to their leaders faces but it’s not genuine. We know our leaders are full of themselves.
Why is RINO Vance getting all of the camera and microphone coverage? Charlie Jones, I think it’s more than the water. Sarah Vance needs to go back to Homer, go out to the Salty Dog and have a couple beers. Make that a couple dozen beers. Cheers!!!
Maybe she is positioning herself to run against Stutes to replace Gary Stevens. Cheers –