While the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) remains Alaska’s largest statewide Native organization, its political endorsements do not uniformly correspond with the more than 140,000 people who are affiliated with the group.
In the lead-up to its annual Oct. 22-24 convention in Anchorage, AFN’s board of directors is considering several resolutions to endorse Democrats Mary Peltola for U.S. Senate and Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins for governor. They are also looking at resolutions to back Republicans U.S. Sen Dan Sullivan and Congressman Nick Begich.
In accordance with AFN bylaws, a Sept. 15 notice about the proposed endorsements was sent to its members. The AFN board of directors will review the resolutions during a Sept. 25 meeting, and AFN delegates will then vote on the items during the upcoming convention.
While AFN has typically endorsed Democrats and progressive Republicans like Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the members are increasingly divided when it comes to politics.
Over the past 15 years, AFN has mostly endorsed Democrats like Mark Begich, Hilary Clinton, and Mary Peltola, along with left-of-center Republicans like Lisa Murkowski and independent Bill Walker.
As AFN heads into its October convention, underlying regional tensions continue to simmer, and it is unclear whether the preeminent Native organization will be able to unify around certain candidates.
AFN has never endorsed more conservative-leaning Republicans Sen. Dan Sullivan and Congressman Nick Begich.
However, individual Native leaders and some regional corporations have separately endorsed Republicans. In May, ANCSA Regional Association (ARA), representing the 12 land-based regional Alaska Native corporations, announced its endorsement of Sullivan.
ARA’s board consists of the presidents and CEOs of Ahtna, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, The Aleut Corporation, Bering Straits Native Corporation, Bristol Bay Native Corporation, Calista, Chugach Alaska Corporation, Cook Inlet Region Inc., Doyon, Koniag, NANA, and Sealaska. ARA’s stated purpose is to promote the growth and economic strength of these regional corporations for their more than 160,000 shareholders and communities.
Additionally, many individual leaders of those corporations and related entities endorsed Sullivan’s re-election bid in late 2025. They include the presidents/CEOs or chairs of Calista Corporation, NANA Regional Corporation, Doyon Limited, Aleut Corporation, Chenega Corporation, Chugach Corporation, Huna Totem Corporation, Old Harbor Native Corporation, and the Alaska Native Village Corporation Association, plus Arctic Slope Regional Corporation leaders in their personal capacities.
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
Another sign of underlying political divisions was illustrated by Sealaska, the regional corporation for Southeast Alaska. The group initially endorsed Democrat Mary Peltola for Senate along with other non-Republican candidates. In late August 2026, it expanded its general-election endorsements to include both Peltola and Sullivan for Senate, plus both independent/Democrat-aligned Bill Hill and Republican Rep. Nick Begich for the House seat. It kept a single gubernatorial endorsement, however, backing Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins.
AFN’s annual convention draws thousands of delegates and is the main venue where those groups attempt to establish unified political priorities. Over the last several years, however, AFN has endured major internal conflicts – mostly over regional interests, governance, and how far the organization should go in promoting controversial public policies, especially with regard to climate change and oil and gas development. Several large members abandoned AFN before some late returned after leadership and rule changes.
The Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) withdrew after the 2019 convention officially declared a “climate emergency.” ASRC’s economy is tied to North Slope oil and gas.
As AFN heads into its October convention, underlying regional tensions continue to simmer, and it is unclear whether the preeminent Native organization will be able to unify around certain candidates.
TAKING ACTION
— To share comments or suggestions with the AFN Board, send emails to afninfo@nativefederation.org. A list of individual board members can be found here.
