Republican Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, is not seeking reelection for a fourth term in the House. Instead, he is running against incumbent Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, for the Senate seat in the same region.
In the primary, Bjorkman had a 4-percentage-point advantage over Carpenter, 44.3% to 40.3%. A third candidate, Democrat Tina Wegener of Sterling, received 12.8% while Alaska Independence Party candidate Andy Cizek received 2.6% and dropped out of the race.
Whereas Bjorkman caucused with the bipartisan Senate majority in the last legislative session, Carpenter was among the more conservative members of the House majority caucus.
Bjorkman, 40, is originally from Michigan and has lived in Alaska for 15 years, where he has worked as a teacher and fisher. He previously served two terms on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly.
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Carpenter, 49, is from Washington state and has lived in Alaska for 34 years, where he owns and operates a commercial peony farm with his wife. He served with the U.S. Air Force for 13 years and was a member of the Air Force Reserves and the Army National Guard in Utah and Alaska. He has served three terms in the Alaska House of Representatives since 2019.
Wegener has a history of supporting Republican candidates, and Bjorkman and some local Democrats have said her candidacy is intended to draw support away from Bjorkman. The Alaska Democratic Party is not supporting Wegener’s campaign. She did not respond to requests from the Alaska Beacon for comment.
Legislative histories
In the last legislative session, two Bjorkman-sponsored bills became law — one bill that is aimed at reducing the cost of lumber produced by Alaska sawmills and another that forbids taxation on real estate transfers. He also supported bills for the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee that became laws to increase benefits paid to injured fishers and ease drug testing requirements for employers through the use of saliva tests.
Some of his policy proposals also made their way into law as part of other legislation, including a proposal to give tax breaks to food producing farmers and to give pay increases to teachers who achieve National Board Certification.
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, expresses frustration at a March 19, 2024, news conference the day after the Legislature failed by one vote to override Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s education-funding veto. Next to him is Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, a co-chair of the finance committee. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
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Carpenter proposed bills that would lower the state’s corporate income tax, aim to take the Permanent Fund dividend out of the appropriation process by returning to a statutory transfer process, implement a 2% sales tax as part of a broader economic plan, increase parental control over their children’s education and increase state benefits for teachers, police officers and firefighters. In his six years in the House, none of the bills he sponsored has become law, though it’s not clear how many of his proposals were incorporated into other bills.
Ideas for affordable energy
While Bjorkman said he favors an “all of the above” approach to get reliable and affordable energy to his constituents, Carpenter has disparaged the ideas of importing liquified natural gas or developing renewable energy on his campaign website.
“I’ve opposed efforts to put state money towards replacing reliable firm-energy production with unreliable and costly renewable energy projects,” Carpenter’s campaign website says. Carpenter declined an interview with the Alaska Beacon.
Bjorkman said his priority is local production, but he is open to an “all of the above” approach to keep things affordable.
“The people who produce gas are telling us that they cannot deliver the gas that South Central needs. If we can’t do that, then we need to prioritize building a pipeline, a natural gas pipeline, from the North Slope, so that we can get Alaska’s natural gas resources heating Alaska’s homes and businesses. That’s what we need to do if we cannot produce it locally,” he said.
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He said he supports reducing the base royalty rate in Cook Inlet to encourage local production.
Differences on education
The candidates both voted last session to approve a major, bipartisan education bill that would have permanently raised the state’s per pupil funding formula. But after Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed the proposal, Bjorkman voted to override the veto and Carpenter voted to accept it. The attempt to override the veto failed by one vote.
Lawmakers passed a one-time funding increase for districts instead, which Bjorkman criticized as an inefficient way to spend state money because it does not cure the year-to-year financial uncertainty districts face.
Legislators listen as Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski and the author of House Joint Resolution 7, speaks in favor of the resolution to guarantee a Permanent Fund dividend, on Thursday, April 11, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Carpenter is a proponent of increasing parent authority and involvement in education and points in his campaign materials to the state’s charter schools as a model of educational success that should be replicated. He introduced a bill that included a “Parents and Teachers Bill of Rights,” which did not make it to the House floor for a vote.
“Teachers will be better supported when parents have responsibility for the outcomes of our schools,” he wrote in his campaign filings.
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Another marked difference between the candidates is that Carpenter opposes a return to a state pension, also known as a defined benefit, for public employees — “I’ve opposed all attempts to return to an unaffordable defined benefit retirement system for public sector unions that would add billions of dollars to our unfunded liabilities,” his campaign site reads.
Bjorkman has expressed that he is open to a pension for state employees — among other options to increase retention — but stipulates that the state must find cost-neutral or cost-saving solutions.
“Alaska is one of the only states in the US that offers no access to Social Security and no defined benefit option for some of its employees,” he wrote in answer to a questionnaire for the Alaska Beacon. “This must change if Alaska is serious about keeping troopers in our communities, teachers in classrooms, and our roads well plowed.”
Where they stand on ballot measures
Bjorkman said he will oppose Ballot Measure 1, which would increase the state’s minimum wage and require employers to offer sick leave. He plans to vote for Ballot Measure 2, a repeal of the ranked choice voting system, but said he has some concerns that it will deny people who are not registered with a political party a chance to vote in primary elections.
“I support Ballot Measure 2, but it’s a cautionary one, because it’s not the system that was in place before. It is another new system that is going to confuse and frustrate voters,” he said.
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Carpenter’s campaign materials list the repeal of ranked choice voting among his priorities.
I never thought I’d be the person writing this letter, but after this winter, I think I might be done with Alaska. I was born here, grew up here, raised my family here, and never imagined living anywhere else. I defended Alaska to the haters. I rolled my eyes at people who retired to Arizona. I told myself long winters are worth it because summers are the best.
But this winter broke something in me. It was so long, dark, icy and relentless. By the time spring finally arrived, I felt angry that winter took so much out of me and that I spent months feeling trapped by weather, darkness and road conditions. Angry that I’m getting older and still structuring my life around surviving winters instead of enjoying my life. And at the time I’m writing this, this spring has sucked! My heat is still coming on every day. I’m still wearing my puffer jackets!
Part of me wonders if it’s not really about the winter at all. I’m divorced and my two kids are grown and doing their own thing, both staying in Alaska for now. For the first time in my life, nothing is really anchoring me to a place. And if I’m being honest with myself, in addition to feeling trapped by the weather, I’m bored with it here. The dating scene feels impossibly small. Every time I open a dating app, it’s the same people. Half the time I already know them, or know someone who dated them (and broken up with them for a good reason!).
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So I’m sketching out plans to move somewhere warmer, bigger and completely unfamiliar. I think I want to know what life feels like somewhere else while I’m still young enough to enjoy it. I really feel this is a moment for a big change.
The problem is that nobody seems supportive. When I bring it up, people act like I’m having a midlife crisis. Friends tell me I’ll regret it. Family members remind me that the kids are here. Other Alaskans give me the usual speech about how the Lower 48 is generic. It’s gotten to the point where I almost don’t talk about it anymore because I’m tired of defending myself.
But all the resistance has me questioning myself and whether moving is a legitimate and logical step, or whether I’m just exhausted from a hard winter and romanticizing a different life. How do you know the difference between running toward something and simply running away?
Wanda says:
You’re asking whether you’re running toward or away from something — essentially if you’re taking a positive step or being reactive. Those aren’t mutually exclusive. Sometimes we leave both because we’re exhausted by what we’ve been carrying, and also because we are moving toward something new at the same time.
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Every reason you listed for staying in Alaska has changed. You raised your children here? They’re grown. You had a marriage here? That chapter is closed. You tolerated winters for the sunny payoff? Nailed it: This spring has sucked.
Now you’re primed for a reset, and questioning how you want the near term and future of your life to unfold is not a crisis, it’s taking action. And it’s way more productive than floating along season to season in a fog of monotony, settling for an unfulfilling existence. Your friends and family may genuinely believe they’re protecting you from a mistake, but they’re also protecting their own worldview. Your decision to leave can feel like an implicit criticism of their choices.
But this isn’t a committee decision, and you’re a grown woman capable of major decisions, who absolutely should explore life’s possibilities without defending it to everyone you know. So go explore. Visit places. Rent before you buy. Spend a winter somewhere else. Gather information instead of arguments. And know that no matter where you land, you can always come home again — even if it’s just for a long visit in the middle of summer.
Wayne says:
This isn’t a midlife crisis that can be glossed over with a motorcycle, lip filler, a 20-something boyfriend (who probably went to high school with your kids — yikes), or kicking off your Cowgirl Era with a hat, boots and a two-week Nashville dive bar tour.
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This is an existential crisis with your health and happiness at risk. And you’ve faced it thoughtfully, sat with it thoroughly, and are now making the best decisions selfishly. Good for you! You can’t fault your family and friends for also being selfish and wanting you to stay in AK. Of course they don’t want their mom and friend moving far away. But you’ve got to mute that noise and focus on what’s best for you.
Yes, Alaska life is special, but it sure isn’t easy. And we don’t get medals for stubbornly battling through decades of winters. What we do get is some sweet and fleeting summer moments followed by more winters. You know that, and it’s not enough for you anymore.
Most people would totally understand an 18-to-20-year-old Alaska kid taking off to see what else is out there in the world. What, we’re supposed to stop being interested in new experiences once we hit a certain age? And we’re expected to stick around someplace forever just because we’ve always been there?
It’s time for you to go. See what life feels like when you’re not scraping ice off your windshield in May. See how much fun you can have with new people in new places. It’s exciting, it’s living, and you deserve it.
[Wayne and Wanda: Is it the winter blues I can’t shake off, or something more?]
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[Wayne and Wanda: Rebuilding my social life after a divorce]
[Wayne and Wanda: My relationship is poised for big steps, and I’m anxious]
Shares in Alaska Air Group(ALK 1.16%) rose by 12.7% in an excellent week for airline stocks. The move comes as the sector climbs a wall of worry driven by soaring jet fuel prices stemming from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. While the market’s prior concerns are understandable, there’s growing anecdotal evidence suggesting that airlines, including Alaska Air, might emerge from the period in better shape than many expect.
This week’s airline updates
Southwest Airlines(LUV 0.83%) CEO Robert Jordan gave a presentation at the Bernstein 42nd Annual Strategic Decisions Conference, and his remarks surprised the market. It’s no secret that jet fuel prices have soared, and that’s challenging airlines’ profitability. Still, it doesn’t appear to have affected end demand, with Delta Air Lines previously telling investors that strong demand in the first quarter was continuing into the second quarter, even as it raised prices.
Today’s Change
(-1.16%) $-0.54
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Current Price
$46.05
Key Data Points
Market Cap
$5.1B
Day’s Range
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$46.04 – $47.84
52wk Range
$33.03 – $65.88
Volume
162.4K
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Avg Vol
4.5M
Gross Margin
13.76%
That positive trend, with Southwest’s Jordan telling investors that Southwest had participated in seven consecutive fare increases with “no drop off in demand at all.” Jordan went on to note that “I’m becoming increasingly bullish that we will be able to cover these fuel increases with revenue increases,” and also believes that “the industry will retain a much higher percent of the fare increases that would be typical historically.”
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What it means to Alaska Air
Given that Alaska competes with Southwest on some routes and is suffering from rising jet fuel prices, the news from Southwest is particularly relevant. For example, in its recent first-quarter earnings report, Alaska’s management said higher fuel costs would impact earnings per share (EPS) by $0.70 in the first quarter and by more than $3 in the second quarter.
Image source: Getty Images.
These are significant numbers from an airline that analysts expect to report a $0.77-per-share loss in 2026 and then $6.32 in EPS in 2027. However, if Alaska can offset fuel costs with higher prices, then those estimates might need a positive revision.
Lee Samaha has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Alaska Air Group, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
(Bethel, AK) –Wednesday, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a favorable opinion for the State of Alaska in ConocoPhillips Alaska v. Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC), agreeing that State laws requiring disclosure of oil well data are not preempted by federal law.
“Alaska relies heavily on our resources and resource development,” said Acting Alaska Attorney General Cori Mills. “We are also stewards of those resources for the citizens of Alaska. Alaska’s law both allows resource development now, and encourages further development and exploration in the future. We’re pleased that the Ninth Circuit recognized that federal law has not overridden Alaska’s balanced approach.”
The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission regulates oil and gas operations throughout Alaska, including within the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska (NPR–A). Under Alaska law, companies need permits from the AOGCC to drill and must submit well data. The AOGCC is required to keep well data confidential for 24 months.
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ConocoPhillips drilled several wells on lease holdings within the NPR–A and submitted data to the AOGCC. When the 24-month period expired, the AOGCC notified ConocoPhillips of the upcoming well data disclosure. ConocoPhillips sued in federal court to stop the disclosure process claiming that the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act, the federal law allowing private exploration in the NPR–A, preempted Alaska’s 24-month disclosure law. The federal district court found Alaska law preempted, and the AOGCC sought appellate review by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
On appeal, the Ninth Circuit agreed with the AOGCC. The federal Production Act does not preempt state law. The Ninth Circuit therefore reversed the district court’s holding to the contrary.
“The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is pleased with the court’s decision upholding Alaska law,” said AOGCC Commissioner Jessie Chmielowski in a declaration filed in the litigation court. “Alaska’s balanced approach to well data confidentiality leads to increased exploration activity, not less. Alaska law allows for a two-year confidentiality period on exploration well data to leverage a company’s investment in drilling. Thereafter, making the data public has incentivized exploration on the North Slope. Placing well data in the public record allows competing companies to evaluate different exploration concepts or interpretations based on seismic data that, without well data, are just educated guesses.”
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/adn/HTGU5NFKBNBFTNH7HBHTDPMSIA.jpg?w=400&resize=400,240&ssl=1 "Opinion: Planning for natural a gas supply in Southcentral Alaska this winter and beyond")
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/adn/HTGU5NFKBNBFTNH7HBHTDPMSIA.jpg?w=80&resize=80,80&ssl=1 "Opinion: Planning for natural a gas supply in Southcentral Alaska this winter and beyond")
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/adn/GFRNB5LP4VE4HBPUFY4B5JSYXI.jpg?w=400&resize=400,240&ssl=1 "Proposal to enshrine Permanent Fund dividend in Alaska Constitution fails to clear House")
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/adn/GFRNB5LP4VE4HBPUFY4B5JSYXI.jpg?w=80&resize=80,80&ssl=1 "Proposal to enshrine Permanent Fund dividend in Alaska Constitution fails to clear House")
