Primary candidates finalized

The deadline for candidates to file to run in party primaries was last Friday, and the lists of candidates for local seats did change somewhat.

Representative David Eastman, who is running for re-election, currently holds the seat for House District 10. While Eastman is not facing a primary challenge, he is not the only Republican in the race. Doyle Holmes, who is currently the chair of the district’s wing of the Republican Party, is running as a petition candidate in the general election.

Two Democrats will compete to see who runs in the general. Both candidates previously ran for the seat. Neal Lacy first ran for the House in 2014, and his primary opponent, Patricia Faye-Brazel, ran in 2016.

On the Senate side, District E will see two sitting officials vying for the nomination. Incumbent Senator Mike Shower was appointed to the seat earlier this year after Mike Dunleavy vacated it. His primary opponent is Randall Kowalke, who currently sits on the Mat-Su Borough Assembly. Kowalke was also appointed by Governor Bill Walker to replace Dunleavy, but Senate Republicans rejected the nomination.

Representative George Rauscher, who currently holds the House District 9 seat, withdrew from the Senate race, and filed to retain his current position in the legislature.

One Democrat, Susan Kay, has filed for the Senate E primary.

Alaska’s primary election is on August 21^st.