Hill edges Begich in early Anchorage vote

Independent candidate Bill Hill is leading Republican incumbent Rep. Nick Begich in the race for Alaska’s single U.S. House seat, according to preliminary results released Tuesday night. The margin between the two top contenders is slim, with final certification of the election results not expected until Nov. 25.

As of 8:40 p.m. Tuesday, Hill had secured 47.3% of the reported vote, totaling 30,786 ballots. Begich trailed with 44.1% of the vote. More than 11% of precincts had reported at the time of the tally, leaving tens of thousands of ballots to be counted.

If neither candidate exceeds 50% of first-choice votes, the election will move to a ranked-choice tabulation on Nov. 18. This process will determine the final winner if the initial count remains too close to call.

Two other candidates appear on the ballot. Eric Hafner, a Democrat and convicted felon residing in New York, received 6.6% of the vote. Jim McDermott, a Libertarian from Fairbanks, captured 1.9% of the vote.

Begich, who is seeking a second term, has positioned himself as a close ally of President Donald Trump. He cited legislative wins, including seven sponsored bills that became law, as evidence of his effectiveness in his first term. His campaign also emphasized efforts to increase drilling on federal lands in Alaska and secure a larger share of royalty income for the state starting in 2034.

Hill, a retired educator and fisherman from Southwest Alaska, is running his first statewide race. He has supported both oil and gas expansion and renewable energy development. His campaign focused on economic concerns, income inequality, and Begich’s support for Medicaid cuts under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The race has drawn substantial financial support from outside groups. OpenSecrets data indicates that more than $30 million has been spent by campaign committees and outside organizations. Begich’s campaign reported $6.4 million in total receipts and $4.8 million in spending. Hill’s campaign reported $2.6 million in receipts and $2.5 million in spending.

Wheel Dog PAC, a group created to support Hill, has spent $5.7 million in his favor and $2.7 million against Begich. The PAC also allocated over $500,000 to ads opposing Hafner, highlighting his status as a federal inmate. Hafner, who is not expected to be released from prison until 2036, won an Alaska Supreme Court battle in 2024 to appear on the ballot.

The four finalists advanced from a field of 15 candidates in the August primary. Matt Schultz, a Democrat and Anchorage pastor who finished third in the primary with 8% of the vote, dropped out before the general election due to concerns over institutional support. Federal records show Hill donated $100 each to Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in recent years, a fact Begich’s team used to suggest Hill aligns with the Democratic party.