Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor announced that he will step down from his role leading the Department of Law on August 29. Tapped by Gov. Mike Dunleavy in 2021, he is the third longest-serving attorney general in Alaska’s history.

“Serving as Attorney General has been the greatest professional privilege of my life,” Taylor stated. “In Alaska, this office is especially unique – not only as the state’s chief law enforcement officer, but also as general counsel to the Governor and executive branch, and as leader of every district attorney across the state. To carry those responsibilities has been both humbling and an honor beyond measure.”

As attorney general, Taylor spearheaded more than 80 lawsuits aimed at protecting Alaskans from unlawful federal overreach. These efforts included defending the Willow Project to ensure oil and gas development could advance, overturning massive habitat designations that threatened jobs, and challenging federal vaccine and mask mandates.

It has been widely rumored that Taylor may soon announce his candidacy for governor in an already crowded field of GOP candidates.

He has also worked on public safety issues, clearing backlogged sexual assault kits, expanding prosecution in rural Alaska, advancing reforms to hold drug dealers accountable for overdose deaths, and pursuing homicide and sexual assault cases.

On the cultural front, Taylor’s office worked on strengthening parental rights in public schools, as well as defending the state’s increasingly popular correspondence homeschool program from entrenched educational bureaucrats who see the homeschool surge as a financial threat to Alaska’s failing brick and mortar state educational system.

Taylor credits his “extraordinary attorneys and staff at the Department of Law and the steadfast support of the Governor” for any progress he has made for the state.

“Their professionalism and commitment inspire me daily,” he stated. “I am also grateful to my wife Jodi and our six children, who have been my anchor through every trial and triumph.”

Taylor’s tenure was not without controversy, especially with regards to dealing with judicial overreach. In recent years, he has been criticized for not doing more to curb a recent Alaska Supreme Court decision that many believe has effectively gutted constitutionally guaranteed rights of citizen grand juries to investigate corrupt government officials and judges.

While Taylor’s office has stated their disagreement with the Alaska Supreme Court, they have abided by the decision, which effectively makes the Dept. of Law the gatekeeper for all grand jury cases. This is not what the state founders intended, according to grand jury advocates.

It has been widely rumored that Taylor may soon announce his candidacy for governor in an already crowded field of GOP candidates.

If he runs, Tayor would be the eighth GOP candidate vying for the governor’s seat in 2026. Earlier this month Revenue Commissioner Adam Crum announced he is running for the state’s highest office. Other candidates include State Sen. Shelley Hughes, 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.

On the Democrat side, only former State Senator Tom Begich has announced his candidacy. Former U.S. Congresswoman Mary Peltola, however, is expected to run as well.

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