By SUZANNE DOWNING
May 29, 2026 – Lesil McGuire, a former Republican state senator from Anchorage and a prominent supporter of Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system, has filed a letter of intent to run for governor, becoming the 20th candidate to enter Alaska’s crowded 2026 gubernatorial race.
McGuire, 55, served 16 years in the Alaska Legislature, first in the House of Representatives from 2001 to 2007 and then in the Senate from 2007 to 2017, representing South Anchorage. During her legislative career, she chaired the House Judiciary Committee and was known as a moderate Republican who frequently worked across party lines on energy, judicial, and fiscal issues.
Her entry into the race adds another name to a field that already includes Republicans, Democrats, independents, and nonpartisan candidates seeking to replace Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who is term-limited.
McGuire has remained somewhat active in Alaska public policy since leaving elected office. An attorney by training, she has worked as a consultant on energy, Arctic policy, aerospace, and technology projects. She has also been a frequent commentator and columnist on Alaska political issues.
In recent years, McGuire has become one of the state’s most visible defenders of ranked-choice voting and Alaska’s open primary system. She served as campaign chair for the successful effort to defeat Ballot Measure 2 in 2024, which sought to repeal ranked-choice voting. Following the narrow defeat of the repeal measure, McGuire praised the election system as one that rewards coalition-building and reflects Alaska’s independent political culture.
She was also a supporter of the original 2020 ballot initiative that established ranked-choice voting and open primaries in Alaska and has indicated she would oppose future efforts to repeal the system.
Born in Portland, Ore., in 1971, McGuire moved to Anchorage with her family in 1973 and has lived in Alaska ever since. She earned both her bachelor’s degree and law degree from Willamette University before returning to Alaska to practice law and enter public service.
During her legislative tenure, McGuire played a significant role in shaping Alaska’s energy policy, including helping establish the state’s Renewable Energy Grant Fund.
Under Alaska law, candidates for governor must file jointly with a lieutenant governor candidate before the June 1 filing deadline.
With McGuire’s filing, the gubernatorial field now stands at 20 candidates, making it one of the largest governor’s races in Alaska history.
Here are the other candidates for governor:
- Businesswoman Bernadette Wilson, former Sen. Mike Shower
- Former Sen. Tom Begich, Julia Hnilicka
- Former Sen. Sen. Click Bishop, Greta Schuerch
- Former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson, Josh Church
- Former Revenue Commissioner Adam Crum, Bob Craig
- Former Attorney General Treg Taylor
- Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom
- Mat-Su Borough Mayor Edna DeVries
- Former state Sen. Shelley Hughes, Blake Gettys
- Sen. Matt Claman, Sarah Skeel
- Former Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
- Anchorage retired podiatrist Matt Heilala
- Angoon former teacher James Parkin
- Palmer resident Roger “Bruce” Walden
- Kasilof resident Jessica Faircloth
- Hank Kroll, Tommy Nicholson
- Community organizer Meda DeWitt
- Former Gov. Bill Walker, Randy Hoffbeck
7 thoughts on “Lesil McGuire makes 20th candidate for governor?”
She never practiced law in Alaska. Good grief
Same law school as multiple bar failure Princess
Who else gets the feeling that people are entering this race simply because of RCV and acting as spoiler votes? Will we end up with a governor elected by 8-10% ?
Lesil’s former hubby went to federal prison. Might be an indicator of her own value as a candidate.
The fact she is so pro RCV says enough.
You guys, we need to back ONE conservative candidate! When it’s clear which candidate that is, the rest need to BACK OFF! How did Peltola win? As for McGuire, she appears to be just a RINO with a pretty face.
Its her again
Helping her boy Kendall