By SUZANNE DOWNING
May 30, 2026 – With Alaska’s June 1 deadline looming for gubernatorial candidates to name lieutenant governor running mates, two more campaigns have filled out their tickets, bringing greater definition to an already crowded field of 20 candidates seeking the governor’s office.
Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor Edna DeVries announced Friday that retired physician Dr. George Hightower will join her ticket as her choice for lieutenant governor. Although a formal filing had not yet appeared with the Alaska Public Offices Commission as of Friday, Hightower’s name was listed alongside DeVries on the Alaska Division of Elections website.
Hightower served as medical director for Sunshine Community Health Center, which operates clinics in Talkeetna, Willow, and Wasilla. He retired in 2021.
His departure from the clinic came during a period of turmoil at the nonprofit healthcare organization. That year, a petition signed by employees raised concerns about workplace bullying, management practices, and patient care issues. Following testimony from current and former employees, the clinic’s board of directors fired its chief executive officer and placed Hightower on administrative leave, according to reporting by Alaska Public Media.
Meanwhile, nonpartisan gubernatorial candidate Meda DeWitt has selected Christopher Steere as her running mate.
Steere currently serves as DeWitt’s campaign manager. In 2023, he announced plans to work as a math tutor in Anchorage. According to campaign materials, Steere is an Iñupiaq from Unalakleet, a military veteran, father, and educator in math and science. His background includes teaching English in Japan before serving in both the US Navy and the U.S. Air Force, where he worked as an F-22 Raptor maintainer at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
DeWitt, a community organizer who chaired the Recall Dunleavy campaign following Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s election in 2018, said the ticket would make history if elected.
In a statement posted to social media, DeWitt said the ticket would be the first all-Alaska Native statewide executive ticket elected in Alaska history. She described herself as Tlingit from the Naanyaa.aayí clan of Wrangell and said her campaign is focused on fisheries restoration, lowering the cost of living through regional food and energy development, and fully funding public education.
Candidates who have already identified running mates include Bernadette Wilson with former Sen. Mike Shower; Tom Begich with Julia Hnilicka; Click Bishop with Greta Schuerch; Dave Bronson with Josh Church; Adam Crum with Bob Craig; Shelley Hughes with Blake Gettys; Matt Claman with Sarah Skeel; Matt Heilala with Jesse Sumner; James Parkin with Ramadhani “Ram” Greer; Hank Kroll with Tommy Nicholson III; Meda DeWitt with Christopher Steere; Edna DeVries with George Hightower; and former Gov. Bill Walker with former Revenue Commissioner Randy Hoffbeck.
Still awaiting lieutenant governor announcements as of Saturday are former Attorney General Treg Taylor and current Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom. Other gubernatorial candidates, including Lesil McGuire, Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, Roger “Bruce” Walden, and Jessica Faircloth, had not yet publicly identified running mates.
