By SUZANNE DOWNING
April 4, 2026 – The race to replace longtime western Alaska Sen. Lyman Hoffman is beginning to take shape, with two Republicans filing last week to run for the open seat. The new entrants, Darren Deacon, a commercial bush pilot and communications technician from Upper Kalskag, and Willie Keppel, a retire trapper, join previously filed candidate Wayne Morgan of Aniak, who is not associated with a political party.
Hoffman, a Democrat, is retiring after one of the longest tenures in Alaska legislative history, leaving a rare open seat in a region where incumbency has long dominated. His departure is expected to draw significant interest, particularly with House Speaker Bryce Edgmon also widely viewed as a potential candidate, though he has not announced.
Hoffman’s career spans decades of public service in western Alaska. He served as state representative from 1986–1990 and again from 1993–1994, and as a state senator from 1991–1992 and continuously since 1995. He also held leadership roles including co-chair of Senate Finance from 2007 to 2012 and co-chair of House Finance from 1989 to 1990.
In addition to his legislative career, Hoffman served as Bethel city manager from 1977 to 1985. His professional background includes work as deputy director of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation and ownership of several local businesses, including North Star Gas and Bethel Drilling and Welding Service. He also served on numerous regional boards and organizations, including the Bethel Native Corporation, Bethel Family Clinic, Lower Kuskokwim Development Corporation, and Orutsararmiut Native Council.
With Hoffman stepping aside, three candidates have already entered the race.
Darren Deacon previously ran for the Alaska House in District 37 in 2024, losing to Bryce Edgmon, who had switched from Democrat to undeclared before becoming House speaker. Deacon also ran for the seat in 2018, losing to Democrat Tiffany Zulkosky. A lifelong resident of Upper Kalskag, Deacon has served as tribal chief of the Native Village of Kalskag, worked 25 years as a communications technician, and later as a workforce development specialist. He is also known locally as a bush pilot.
Willie Keppel, who has run previously as a Democrat and with the Veterans Party of Alaska, also entered the race. Keppel ran for House District 38 in 2024 and advanced from the primary but lost in the general election. He also challenged Hoffman for the Senate seat in 2022. Keppel has worked as a trapper and has been active in regional subsistence and rural policy issues.
The third candidate, Wayne Morgan of Aniak, filed earlier as an undeclared candidate. Morgan serves as chairman of the AVCP Regional Housing Authority and is president of the Aniak Traditional Council. While undeclared candidates in the region often caucus with the Democratic majority, Morgan has not publicly stated how he would align if elected.
The race is likely to draw attention not only because of Hoffman’s retirement, but also because the Senate seat represents a large, predominantly rural western Alaska district where coalition politics and caucus alignment can determine control of the chamber.
4 thoughts on “Three candidates file for western Alaska Senate seat as Hoffman retires after decades of service”
Considering Southwestern. I bet we are looking at Morgan will be elected, a confirmed Democrat for the Senate majority if they can keep it after Nov 2026 . Deacon has already loss three times showing that Southwestern district is not yet ready to elect someone different as Deacon or let alone someone as Keppel who I would call the Rep Eastman of his district.
Its good they run anyway, their presence will plant seeds in Southwest to recognize That there are “you know there ARE other ideas, opinions, and ideologies other than Democrats and Socialism”
Those two and whoever will support them, they still have their work cut out in the off season to work over the voters before next election. Change starts with Christ entering in their district’s and all of Southwest Region’s hearts and being transformed.
When there are candidate events I hope those two meet them to give another opinion so the likely voters can hear another opinion presented in as gracious and intelligent as possible
Lyman Hoffman lives in Anchorage. This race is all about money, power and control.
“4decades of public service”, you mean SELF ” service” it was no t the public he was serving,but his own ego