State Sen. Shelley Hughes has thrown her hat into a growing field of Republican candidates who are vying to become Alaska’s next governor.
Hughes made her announcement on July 24 in Palmer, saying she is the person to help navigate the state through some trying fiscal times as it works to unleash energy potential, cut government spending and improve a struggling educational system.
In throwing her hat in the ring, Hughes has become the sixth GOP candidate to announce a bid for governor. Joining her are former state senator Click Bishop, current Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, current Mat-Su Borough Mayor Edna DeVries, Alaska State Medical Board Member Matt Heilala, and conservative business owner and political mover Bernadette Wilson.
A strong supporter of school choice, Hughes said she will work across the political spectrum to help improve educational outcomes for Alaska students, while also focusing on natural resource production which will lead to good paying jobs that will allow people to move off Medicaid assistance.
Hughes said there must be a way for people to improve their careers without jeopardizing their family’s health care coverage, and she hinted at helping bridge the gap.
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For the near term, Hughes acknowledged that Alaska is facing “a rough patch,” with dwindling government revenue, which will necessitate a smaller and more efficient state government. She suggested that AI technology might be helpful in shrinking government expenses.
Hughes’ interest in championing innovative and emerging technologies has led to her to being the Alaska delegate on the NCSL Artificial Intelligence Task Force.
Another focus for Hughes is agriculture and food security. The past two years she led the 36-member bipartisan task force focused on food security and the expansion of the agriculture industry in Alaska, while also serving on the national board of the State Agriculture and Rural Leaders.
Like current Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Hughes is a firm believer that Alaska should have an official Department of Agriculture to help farmers and ranchers build the infrastructure necessary to produce and bring food to market.
Hughes served in the State House four years before moving to the State Senate in 2017. She represented greater Palmer and Chugiak initially, and more recently greater Palmer and the Knik-Fairview and Settlers Bay areas. During that time, she has served as Senate Majority Leader, Judiciary Chair, and Education Chair and as a member of the Senate Resources Committee.
Hughes is also a state’s rights supporter and has worked as Vice Chair of the National Federalism Commission.
10 Comments
Shelley Hughes, Bernadette Wilson, gets my vote. Now let’s see how things play out.
I live in Quinhagak. We haven’t had public radio or TV for the last two decades. We won’t miss it.
What Lisa is afraid of is, it will be gone from the Hubs with thousands of votes, not a couple dozen or up to a couple hundred votes in the remote villages……..……. COPY AND OPEN →→→www.best.work43.com
I live in Quinhagak. We haven’t had public radio or TV for the last two decades. We won’t miss it.
What Lisa is afraid of is, it will be gone from the Hubs with thousands of votes, not a couple dozen or up to a couple hundred votes in the remote villages……. Cash43.Com
Thank you for the list of candidates. Hughes and Wilson are probably the only ones with some common sense from the sound of it. I’m leaning towards Hughes. More research needed.
Hmm! Multiple Republican candidates for governor in a “ranked voting” state! What could possibly go wrong? Where are all these candidates heads? Use your brains, money and influence to get behind one strong candidate, for Pete’s sake!
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I live in Quinhagak. We haven’t had public radio or TV for the last two decades. We won’t miss it.
What Lisa is afraid of is, it will be gone from the Hubs with thousands of votes, not a couple dozen or up to a couple hundred votes in the remote villages…….. rb.gy/uvl61c
REVOLUTION,REFORMATION, REVIVAL
PRAY………….PREPARE………..PROCEED
HUGHES AND COONS TWO LOONS SINGING THE SAME TUNES! WE DONT NEED A CONTINUATION OF STUPID!!!
VOTE DAVE MAXWELL FOR GOVERNOR
HUGHES? LAUGHABLE
The republicans will be giving the Governor’s position to the Democrats because we have too many Republicans running for office, the republicans will cancel themselves out on votes with Rank Choice Voting.
if rcv is in, we lose unless the party unified and folks drop out. thats how peltola won. I like Shelly but not sure this is a good move for the state