Inmate With No Alaska Ties Advances in State's House Primary

A man currently incarcerated in a New York federal prison has advanced from Alaska's primary for the state's sole U.S. House seat, setting the stage for a likely legal battle over constitutional residency requirements.

Eric Hafner, a registered Democrat, finished among the top four vote-getters in Tuesday's primary, according to results with 93% of ballots counted. Under Alaska's nonpartisan top-four primary system, the leading candidates advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation.

Hafner's advancement comes after the third-place finisher, Democrat Matt Schultz, withdrew from the general election and was deemed ineligible to move forward. Hafner had received 5,757 votes at the time of the count.

This is not the first time Hafner has secured a spot on Alaska's general election ballot. He also ran for the seat in 2024 and advanced despite a challenge from the Alaska Democratic Party.

Hafner pleaded guilty in 2022 to charges of making threats against police officers, judges, and others. His release date is set for 2036.

In candidate filings with the state, Hafner listed a Box Elder, South Dakota, mailing address and a New York phone number — the same contact information as his mother, Carol Hafner. Neither appears to have any connection to Alaska. Carol Hafner, herself a failed prior candidate, also ran in this year's U.S. Senate primary in Alaska.

The leading candidates in the race are incumbent Republican Rep. Nick Begich and independent Bill Hill, a commercial fisherman and retired educator.

Hafner's success in the primary is almost certain to draw another legal challenge, as the U.S. Constitution requires candidates to reside in the state they seek to represent at the time of the election. The fourth-place finisher in the primary remained too close to call.