Anchorage candidates outline plans to stabilize housing and public assistance

Anchorage residents will choose among four candidates for governor in November, and the top contenders have begun detailing how they would address the state's persistent affordability crisis. Three of the four candidates joined an online forum hosted by the Alaska Children’s Trust on Monday to discuss strategies for supporting working families and slowing the trend of residents leaving the state.

State demographers reported that Alaska experienced its 13th consecutive year of net outmigration last year. The U.S. Census Bureau recorded a median household income of nearly $94,000 in 2024, yet a recent United Way study estimates that nearly 40% of Alaskans cannot cover basic expenses such as food, housing, and healthcare. These financial pressures have intensified this year due to record-high fuel prices driven by the U.S. war on Iran, which have raised the cost of groceries, transportation, and medical care. School districts are also facing severe budget shortfalls that have forced class size increases and facility closures, adding to the reasons families are moving away.

Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, Republican Dave Bronson, and Republican Treg Taylor participated in the discussion moderated by Trevor Storrs, the executive director of the Alaska Children’s Trust. Republican Bernadette Wilson did not attend due to a scheduling conflict. The candidates agreed that the state needs more investment in public assistance programs, which are currently struggling with high error rates and processing delays.

Kreiss-Tomkins proposed increasing the supply of housing, energy, and childcare by reducing state regulations and permitting requirements. He stated that scarcity in these sectors is driving up costs for working families. Taylor echoed the need for regulatory reform but focused his energy policy on an all-of-the-above approach, including dams, solar power, and the AKLNG line. He also proposed a modern-day Homestead Act to help families build homes on state land. Bronson argued against tax increases for families and businesses, claiming that additional tax burdens hinder economic progress. He also opposed mandating paid family and medical leave, viewing it as an interruption to private enterprise.

The candidates addressed specific challenges in Medicaid and SNAP programs. Nearly 60,000 Alaskans lost Medicaid coverage since January 2025, including more than 20,000 children, according to data from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. Alaska has recorded the highest SNAP error rate in the nation for four straight years. Kreiss-Tomkins and Taylor pledged to publish backlog numbers to hold officials accountable. Bronson suggested increasing pay for state workers in the Division of Public Assistance to reduce processing times, criticizing current administration leaders for underfunding these social services.

Youth mental health also featured prominently in the forum, as Alaska recorded a 10-year high in youth suicides last year at a rate six times the national average. Kreiss-Tomkins supported expanding telehealth access and supporting Native cultural activities in rural areas. Taylor said he would restructure the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority to build a comprehensive mental health system rather than just distributing funds to charities. Bronson highlighted the need for immediate crisis intervention and long-term systemic funding, citing the impact of crashing salmon runs on communities along the Yukon River.

All three candidates expressed support for increased state spending on K-12 schools, a major topic in this election cycle. Early voting is currently underway and will continue through Election Day on November 3 at 8 p.m.