By SUZANNE DOWNING
May 21, 2026 – A new Republican primary battle is brewing in the Mat-Su Valley, as Mat-Su Borough Assemblyman Michael Bowles announced he is challenging Rep. DeLena Johnson for House District 25.
Bowles made the announcement Thursday during an appearance on “The Amy Demboski Show,” setting up what is expected to become one of the most closely watched Republican legislative races in Alaska ahead of the 2026 election.
Johnson, the House Republican minority leader and former mayor of Palmer, has come under intense criticism from many conservatives after voting in a way that helped derail key Alaska LNG legislation during the closing days of the legislative session.
The fight over the gasline legislation has become a political flashpoint inside Republican circles, particularly among conservatives who believe lawmakers failed to seize the moment for a once-in-a-generation opportunity to advance the long-discussed Alaska LNG project. The legislative maneuvering placed the project in jeopardy at a critical moment, as developer Glenfarne has warned that construction contracts and commercial arrangements cannot remain open indefinitely.
Bowles enters the race positioning himself as a conservative alternative focused on property rights, limited government, lower taxes, and fiscal restraint.
According to his campaign website, Michael Bowles campaign website, Bowles served in the US Army and came to Alaska while stationed at Fort Richardson in 2008. He later worked for the State of Alaska as an OSHA industrial hygienist, an investigator for the Alaska Board of Pharmacy, and executive administrator for the board. He currently serves as the Mat-Su Borough District 1 assemblyman.
Bowles and his wife Amanda also operated the Happy Bison Barbeque food truck in the Mat-Su Valley while he completed his master’s degree.
“While on the Mat-Su Assembly, Michael fights for personal liberty, property rights, small government, lower taxes, and fiscal responsibility,” his campaign biography states.
The challenge comes at a politically vulnerable moment for Johnson.
Some have speculated that Johnson’s positioning during the final days of session may have been tied to future House leadership ambitions, including a possible attempt to become House speaker during the next legislative reorganization. Johnson has not publicly confirmed any such plans but those maneuverings are seldom discussed in public.
The race also carries added political sensitivity because Johnson’s daughter works for the North Slope Borough, a government entity with substantial interests tied to North Slope resource development and taxation issues surrounding the gasline project.
District 25 covers much of the Palmer area and has historically leaned strongly Republican, meaning the GOP primary could effectively determine the eventual winner of the seat.
7 thoughts on “Mat-Su Assemblyman Michael Bowles launches Republican primary challenge against Rep. DeLena Johnson”
Well, he jumped on that like a hungry tiger onto a bleeding monkey. We might not get a pipeline, but we’ll get a new legislator.
It would be great if the people who talk about imposing term limits all the time voted that way.
It seems the longer anyone is in political office, the more they are susceptible to becoming part of the political swamp that results in strange coalitions for power. I’m talking about long term, perpetual politicians like Geisel, Stutes, Kopp, Stevens, Murkowski and Bishop who have sold their party and constituents for their own political power. It seems nobody actually stands for anything anymore except for winning the next election or powerful committee assignment at all cost.
That’s what the AkDemocrats want is term limits because they are so close to one day having both US Senator seats and the US House seat, Governor’s seat, and total domination over the legislature for the next ten years!
AKGOP have bigger problems than Term limits and whether or not Alaska should instate them.
Just as long as he didn’t make his wealth by government dependency; what Alaska needs are community leaders who Are not government dependents; who did not build their wealth by taxpayers; who has nothing to lose when voters are complaining at hard necessary budget cuts and government reforms
Delena Johnson’s husband was the district 25 chair. He suddenly stepped down and Bowles filled his seat. I heard that Delena’s husband was (is?) the vice chair now. I think it’s all scripted. Have Delena look like she’s doing a bad job, so vote in someone new. That someone happens to be from her district and was (is?) working with her husband. The gatekeepers at work again.
Anyone want to start taking bets on what Johnson’s next move is going to be? I am betting she’ll throw her hat in for borough mayor.
Anyone want to start taking bets on what Johnson’s next move is going to be? I am betting she’ll throw her hat in for borough mayor.