national
Federal Inmate Eric Hafner Advances in Alaska U.S. House Primary
Just the facts
Registered Democrat Eric Hafner secured 5,757 votes in Alaska's open primary election, qualifying for the November 2026 general election ballot following the withdrawal of third-place candidate Matt Schultz. Hafner is currently serving a 20-year sentence at a federal correctional facility in New York after pleading guilty in 2022 to making threats against public officials and law enforcement officers. Incumbent Republican Representative Nick Begich and independent candidate Bill Hill led the primary voting to secure the top two spots on the ballot. The U.S. Constitution requires congressional candidates to be inhabitants of the state they represent at the time of election, setting up potential legal challenges to Hafner's candidacy.
Why this is news
Federal prisoner Eric Hafner advanced from Alaska's open primary election for the state's single seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.