Podcast episode: Scott Kendall talks about upcoming campaign year

The Alaska Story’s newest episode of The Northern Ledger features one of the state’s most controversial political figures who has never run for office: Anchorage attorney and strategist Scott Kendall.

Host John Quick sat down with Kendall for a wide-ranging conversation that examines the fast-approaching governor’s race, the shifting sands of Alaska’s congressional delegation, and the broader forces shaping political decisions in the state.

Kendall, a longtime ally of Sen. Lisa Murkowski and a key architect behind Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system, has been an influential player in the state’s modern political framework. His work continues to ripple through nearly every major statewide race, and his assessments are closely watched by political operatives across the spectrum.

In the interview, Kendall discusses how the 2026 governor’s race is developing and what dynamics he believes will define it. He also weighs in on Rep. Mary Peltola’s political future, including the question many in Alaska politics have been asking: whether she might pivot toward a Senate run. Kendall signaled that while Peltola remains a formidable political figure, the challenge of unseating an incumbent senator is steep. He went so far as to say he does not believe Peltola — or anyone else currently on the political scene — could defeat Sen. Dan Sullivan.

The episode explores how Alaska’s political environment has evolved under ranked-choice voting, how coalitions are built in an electorate that often defies national trends, and how candidates are recalibrating their messages in response. Quick presses Kendall on the influences shaping voter behavior, the strategic calculations campaigns are making, and what Alaskans should watch for in the coming months.

With the 2026 campaign cycle beginning to take shape, The Northern Ledger offers listeners a rare opportunity to hear candid analysis from someone who has helped engineer many of the state’s recent political shifts, whether they agree with those shifts or not. The full episode is now available on The Alaska Story’s website and podcast platforms.

All the podcasts are linked on the home page of The Alaska Story.

Here’s a Substack link to this episode of The Northern Ledger.

You can also listen to all the episodes on Apple Podcasts at this link.