Bernadette Wilson strongly leads in latest Kenai straw poll among Republicans

By SUZANNE DOWNING

March 29, 2026 – Republicans in Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula District 6 gathered over the weekend for their district convention, where attendees conducted a straw poll for governor.

The informal gubernatorial straw poll showed Bernadette Wilson with a commanding lead among the participants. Wilson received 17 votes, followed by Bruce Walden with 6 votes and Shelley Hughes with 5. Matt Heilala received 2 votes, and Edna DeVries received 1.

While nonbinding and nonscientific, district straw polls are often watched as early indicators of grassroots enthusiasm within party organizations, particularly in areas like the Kenai Peninsula where Republican turnout is traditionally strong. The results suggest Wilson currently has the most momentum among District 6 activists, though the relatively small vote total reflects the informal nature of the exercise.

In context

The District 6 poll follows several other informal Republican straw polls held this year as candidates jockey for position in the crowded gubernatorial field.

Another straw poll conducted by the X account called Alaska Nations had Wilson coming out strongly with 55.4% of the vote to Bronson’s 21.8% and Hughes’ 7.9%.  Others were 14.9%.

A poll that was independently done by Lake Research Partners on behalf of Democrat Tom Begich shows Bernadette Wilson leading the Republican field. Conducted Feb. 5-11 among 600 likely voters, Begich led with 38% and Wilson was 16%, with other Republicans trailing far behind.

In the PredictIt online betting market, Wilson is leading at 31%, followed by Click Bishop 23% and Tom Begich 16%. The Polymarket betting site has Tom Begich winning with 25% and Bernadette Wilson following at 15%, with others trailing far behind.

In January, the Alaska Young Republicans conducted a straw poll at their state convention, in which Shelley Hughes finished first with 35 votes, followed by Adam Crum with 30 votes and other candidates trailing.

In February, Republicans in House District 8, covering the Soldotna and central Kenai Peninsula area, hosted a gubernatorial forum at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. Multiple candidates attended, and a straw poll conducted among participants was won by Hughes.

These types of informal preference votes are becoming more frequent as Republicans test the strength of a large gubernatorial field that includes Republicans Bernadette Wilson, Nancy Dahlstrom, Shelley Hughes, Adam Crum, Dave Bronson, Treg Taylor, and others. Democrats now have four candidates – Matt Claman, Tom Begich, Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins and Meda DeWitt, (who is an unaffiliated candidate considered to be a far-left Democrat). Click Bishop is a Republican candidate who is considered to be a Democrat as well, which makes polling his race difficult.

In addition to the gubernatorial straw poll, District 6 Republicans elected new officers to serve two-year terms. George Hall was selected as chair, with Waynette Coleman elected vice chair. Gayle Claus was chosen as secretary, and Charlie Franz will hold the district’s bonus vote.

Since 2022, Alaska does not use party-run primaries. Instead, all candidates compete in a nonpartisan top-four primary scheduled for Aug. 18, 2026, with the top four finishers advancing to the general election, which is decided using ranked-choice voting. As a result, party organizations often use forums, conventions, and straw polls to gauge early support.

Next week’s fireside forum on veterans’ issues features seven candidate for governor