Alaska

House Republican runs to unseat Republican incumbent in Kenai Peninsula Senate race • Alaska Beacon

Published

1 year ago

October 26, 2024

House Republican runs to unseat Republican incumbent in Kenai Peninsula Senate race • Alaska Beacon

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

Carpenter’s campaign materials list the repeal of ranked choice voting among his priorities.

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Alaska

Jessie Holmes wins Alaska Air Transit Spirit of Iditarod Award

Published

5 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

Jessie Holmes wins Alaska Air Transit Spirit of Iditarod Award

Veteran musher Jessie Holmes (bib # 7 ), of Brushkana, Alaska was the first musher to reach the McGrath checkpoint at 8:03 p.m. today with 16 dogs in harness, winning the Alaska Air Transit Spirit of Iditarod Award.

First presented in 2019 and given to the first musher to reach the McGrath checkpoint, this award is presented by Lead Dog partner, Alaska Air Transit. First introduced in 2019, this award honors the first musher to arrive at the McGrath Checkpoint. The McGrath community shares deep ties to the Iditarod, and the award reflects that connection, featuring beaver fur mushers mitts with Athabaskan beadwork on moose hide, handcrafted by Loretta Maillelle of McGrath, along with a beaver fur hat made by Rosalie Egrass of McGrath. The award was presented to Holmes by Jessica Beans-Vaeao, Charter Coordinator for Alaska Air Transit

“Our team is excited to present this Spirit of Iditarod award in McGrath again this year. The Beaded Moose Hide and Beaver Mitts were made by Loretta Maillelle of McGrath, and the hand sewn Beaver Hat was made by Rosalie Egrass of McGrath. Rosalie Egrass was able to fly home on our plane that took our crew and the award to McGrath, which made for a pretty special trip! We are proud to be providing service to McGrath, and feel that all local Air Carriers represent the spirit of Iditarod throughout Alaska on a daily basis. It is great to be a part of the air carriers that service the state with essential supplies and transportation, and to be a part of the Iditarod in a meaningful way,” said Josie Owen, owner of Alaska Air Transit.

This is Alaska Air Transit’s eighth year sponsoring the Iditarod and seventh year presenting the Spirit of Iditarod Award. Alaska Air Transit offers crucial flight support statewide via air charter and provides scheduled service to the Upper Kuskokwim communities of Nikolai, McGrath, Takotna and Tatalina as well as the Prince William Sound communities of Tatitlek and Chenega.

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Alaska

Alaska High School Girls Basketball 2026 ASAA State Championship Brackets – March 10

Published

17 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Alaska High School Girls Basketball 2026 ASAA State Championship Brackets – March 10

The 2026 Alaska high school girls basketball state championships begin this week, and High School On SI has brackets for all four classifications.

The brackets will be updated with scores and matchups throughout the week.

All four classifications will play their state championship games at Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

The 1A and 2A championships run March 11-14. Classes 3A and 4A play the following week, March 18-21.

Alaska High School Girls Basketball 2026 State Championship Brackets, Matchups, Schedule – March 10

3/11 – Shaktoolik (1) vs. Arlicaq (16)

3/11 – Kake (8) vs. Tri-Valley (9)

3/11 – Fort Yukon (4) vs. Andreafski (13)

3/11 – Sand Point (5) vs. Napaaqutgmiut (12)

3/11 – Scammon Bay (2) vs. Nunamiut (15)

3/11 – Akiuk Memorial (7) vs. Newhalen (10)

3/11 – Davis-Romoth (3) vs. Cook Inlet Academy (14)

3/11 – Hoonah (6) vs. Shishmaref (11)

3/12 – Seward (1) vs. Chevak (8)

3/12 – Metlakatla (4) vs. Cordova (5)

3/12 – Craig (2) vs. Susitna Valley (7)

3/12 – Glennallen (3) vs. Degnan (6)

3/18 – Barrow (1) vs. Kotzebue (8)

3/18 – Grace Christian (4) vs. Galena (5)

3/18 – Monroe Catholic (2) vs. Delta (7)

3/18 – Mt. Edgecumbe (3) vs. Kenai Central (6)

3/18 – Mountain City Christian Academy (1) vs. North Pole (8)

3/18 – Colony (4) vs. West (5)

3/18 – Bartlett (2) vs. Juneau-Douglas (7)

3/18 – Wasilla (3) vs. Service (6)

More Coverage from High School On SI

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Alaska

Made In The USA: The Alaska Wall Tent By The Alaska Gear Company

Published

1 day ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Made In The USA: The Alaska Wall Tent By The Alaska Gear Company

This is the Alaska Wall Tent by the Alaska Gear Company, each one is made in the United States from Sunforger 13oz DLX, a double-filled, pre-shrunk, marine-grade canvas ideal for longterm outdoor use.

The Alaska Wall Tent comes in an array of sizes and versions, allowing you to choose the one that best suits your individual use-case. They’re all individually made in Alaska, and perhaps even more importantly, they’re all tested extensively to be able to handle local conditions.

The Alaska Wall Tent By The Alaska Gear Company 5

The Alaska Wall Tent By The Alaska Gear Company 2

This is the Alaska Wall Tent by the Alaska Gear Company, each one is made in the United States from Sunforger 13oz DLX, a double-filled, pre-shrunk, marine-grade canvas ideal for longterm outdoor use.

History Speedrun: The Alaska Gear Company

The Alaska Gear Company was formerly known as Airframes Alaska, it’s an aviation and outdoor equipment supplier and manufacturer headquartered in Palmer, Alaska. The company is led by majority owner Sean McLaughlin, who bought the original bush airplane parts business when it had just two employees and $100,000 in annual revenue. McLaughlin has since grown it to approximately 100 employees and $20 million in annual sales.

The company can trace its early roots to a licensed maker of Piper PA-18 Super Cub fuselages at Birchwood Airport. Through a series of acquisitions, including Reeve Air Motive (an aircraft parts retailer operating out of Anchorage’s Merrill Field since 1950, Alaska Tent & Tarp, and Northern Sled Works, the company grew well beyond aviation into outdoor recreation and cold-weather gear.

That diversification ultimately drove the rebrand from Airframes Alaska to Alaska Gear Company in late 2023, as the old name no longer conveyed the full scope of what the company produces and sells.

The Alaska Gear Company now operates out of three locations – a 100,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Palmer, a production facility in Fairbanks, and a retail store with an in-house sewing workshop at Merrill Field in Anchorage.

Its product lines span two major categories. On the aviation side, the company is best known for its hand-built Alaskan Bushwheel tundra tires, FAA-approved titanium landing gear, Super Cub fuselage modifications, and a wide range of bush plane parts. On the outdoor side, it manufactures Arctic Oven hot tents, canvas wall tents, custom freight and pulk sleds, and a modernized version of the iconic military bunny boot designed for extreme cold weather conditions.

More recently in 2024, the Alaska Gear Company was named “Made in Alaska Manufacturer of the Year” by the Alaska Department of Commerce.

The Alaska Wall Tent By The Alaska Gear Company

The Alaska Canvas Wall Tent is a handmade-in-Alaska canvas tent made from 13oz Sunforger DLX double-filled, preshrunk, marine-grade cotton canvas that’s treated to resist fire, water, and mildew while still remaining breathable.

It comes in four sizes, including 8×10, 10×12, 12×14, and 14×16 feet, all with 5-foot wall heights, and it’s available either unframed (starting at $1,295) or with a frame (starting at $2,300). The unframed version can be constructed in the field using lengths of wood sourced from the area, reducing the initial pack weight – this is crucial for trips into the wilderness by bush plane where every pound of weight is critical.

The Alaska Wall Tent By The Alaska Gear Company 7

The Alaska Wall Tent By The Alaska Gear Company 4

All tents include a 4.5 inch oval stove jack for use with wood or propane stoves, as well as a 56 inch triangular rear window with insect screening, an 18oz vinyl sod cloth around the base to block drafts and moisture, ridgepole openings at both ends, rope-reinforced eaves, brass grommets, overlapping door flaps with ties, a heavy-duty zippered door, and 100 feet of sisal rope for tie-downs.

The tents are now available to buy direct from the Alaska Gear Company here, and at the time of writing they have stock ready to ship out immediately.

The Alaska Wall Tent By The Alaska Gear Company 10

Images courtesy of the Alaska Gear Company

Articles that Ben Branch has written have been covered on CNN, Popular Mechanics, Smithsonian Magazine, Road & Track Magazine, the official Pinterest blog, the official eBay Motors blog, BuzzFeed, Autoweek Magazine, Wired Magazine, Autoblog, Gear Patrol, Jalopnik, The Verge, and many more.

Silodrome was founded by Ben back in 2010, in the years since the site has grown to become a world leader in the alternative and vintage motoring sector, with well over a million monthly readers from around the world and many hundreds of thousands of followers on social media.

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