A man serving time in a federal prison in New York, Eric Hafner, has advanced to the general election for Alaska's lone US House seat despite living outside of Alaska and having no apparent ties to the state. Hafner received 5,757 votes after 93% of ballots had been counted, which is far behind the third-place candidate Democrat Matt Schultz. The US Constitution requires candidates to live in the state they will represent at the time of the election, so Hafner's candidacy is likely to face a legal challenge. As one of four candidates advancing to the general election under Alaska's top-four primary system, Hafner is set to compete against incumbent Republican Nick Begich and independent Bill Hill.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-27,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Eric Hafner, a registered Democrat currently serving time in a federal prison in New York, has advanced from the primary for Alaska's lone US House seat. This is not his first attempt at running for the seat, as he also ran in 2024 and made it to the general election ballot despite a challenge from the Alaska Democratic party. Hafner pleaded guilty in 2022 to charges of making threats against law enforcement officers, judges, and others and is set to be released in 2036. The other top contenders for the seat are incumbent Republican Nick Begich and independent candidate Bill Hill, a commercial fisher and retired educator. Hafner's success in the primary has raised questions about his eligibility to run, as he listed a mailing address in South Dakota and a phone number in New York, with no apparent ties to Alaska, on his candidate information form. This may lead to another legal challenge under the US Constitution, which requires candidates to live in the state they will represent at the time of the election.
Written for “Alaskan Congressional Election” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning score +0.15 for article 2820 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-27
A man who is serving time in a federal prison in New York advanced on Wednesday from the primary for Alaska’s lone US House seat.
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who → serve → seat
Eric Hafner, a registered Democrat, also ran for the seat in 2024 and secured a spot on the general election ballot that November despite a challenge brought by the Alaska Democratic party.
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Hafner → run → party
Hafner pleaded guilty in 2022 to charges of making threats against police officers, judges and others.
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Hafner → plead → officers
He is set to be released in 2036.
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He → set → 2036
The leading candidates in the race are the incumbent, Republican Nick Begich, and independent Bill Hill, a commercial fisher and retired educator.
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candidates → lead → race
Hafner’s success in the primary as one of the candidates moving on to the general election is almost certain to draw another legal challenge because the US constitution requires candidates to live in the state they will represent at the time of the election.
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they → move → election
In the candidate information he filed with the state, he listed the same Box Elder, South Dakota, mailing address and New York phone number as his mother, Carol Hafner.
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he → file → mother
Neither has any apparent ties to Alaska.
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Neither → have → Alaska
Carol Hafner also is a failed prior candidate and ran again this year, this time in the state’s US Senate primary.
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Hafner → fail → primary
Under Alaska’s election system, the top four primary finishers advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation.
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finishers → advance → affiliation
Eric Hafner received 5,757 votes after 93% of ballots had been counted.
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% → receive → ballots
But Schultz withdrew from the general election and was ineligible to advance.
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Schultz → withdraw → election
It remained too early to call the fourth-place finisher.
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It → remain → finisher
