Eric
Hafner
Incarcerated federal prisoner and registered Democrat running for Alaska's At-Large U.S. House seat in 2026
- sources
- 6
- positions
- 9
- endorsements
- 0
Background
Eric Hafner is a registered Democrat on Alaska's November 3, 2026 general-election ballot for U.S. Representative (At-Large). He advanced from the August 2026 primary while incarcerated in a federal prison in New York, where he is serving a 20-year sentence after pleading guilty to charges involving threats and false bomb threats. 31423
Hafner has previously run for Congress in Hawaii (2016), Oregon (2018), and Alaska (2024), holding no prior elected office. His 2026 Alaska candidate statement describes prior work on a criminal-defense team in Maui, drug-policy advocacy with Students for Sensible Drug Policy and NORML, labor organizing, and work supporting a Senegalese ambassador in Washington, D.C. He lists educational background at Denver College (criminal justice and graduate coursework) and City College of San Francisco; these details are self-reported. 11216
Hafner's 2026 Alaska filing lists a Box Elder, South Dakota mailing address; the Associated Press reported he has no clear ties to Alaska. The incumbent he seeks to unseat is Republican Rep. Nick Begich. Alaska Democrats have reportedly campaigned against their own nominee given his incarceration. 31025
At a glance
- Party
- Democratic
- Running for
- U.S. House · District At-large, Alaska
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Website
- erichafner.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 3pollNYT/Siena poll shows Hafner at 8% first-choice; eliminated before final round in RCV simulation
A New York Times/Siena poll of 504 likely Alaska voters (conducted Sept. 24–Oct. 1, ±5.1 pp margin of error) found Hafner at 8% for first choice, versus Begich at 47% and Hill at 35%. The ranked-choice simulation eliminated Hafner before the final round, with the final round projecting Begich 53%, Hill 47%.
Toplines: September 2026 Times/Siena Poll of the Likely Electorate in Alaska · Oct 3, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 18endorsementDCCC backs independent Bill Hill, further isolating Hafner from Democratic institutional support
The DCCC announced it would back independent Bill Hill, reinforcing the institutional Democratic party's refusal to support Hafner, their own nominee on the ballot.
National Democratic group throws weight behind Bill Hill ... · Sep 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 13debateFisheries debate held in Kodiak; Hafner listed as ballot candidate but not reported as participant
Candidates discussed fishing and coastal-community issues at a debate in Kodiak. Hafner was identified as a general-election ballot candidate but the coverage does not report that he participated or stated a position on bycatch limits.
Leading candidates in Alaska U.S. House race endorse ... · Sep 15, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 1endorsementAlaska Democratic Party endorses independent Bill Hill, says it will not support Hafner
The Alaska Democratic Party endorsed independent candidate Bill Hill and stated it 'has not and will not support Hafner,' directing Democratic support away from their own nominal party nominee.
National Democratic group throws weight behind Bill Hill ... · Sep 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 31filingAlaska posts official primary results confirming Hafner's ballot qualification
Alaska's official election results were posted August 31, confirming Hafner's place on the November 3 general-election ballot.
National Democratic group throws weight behind Bill Hill ... · Sep 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 18newsHafner receives 3.79% in Alaska open primary, qualifying for November general election ballot
Hafner received 6,175 votes (3.79%) in the August 18 primary. Under Alaska's top-four ranked-choice system, he advanced to the November 3 general election as the only Democrat among the four qualifying candidates.
National Democratic group throws weight behind Bill Hill ... · Sep 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $0
- Spent
- $0
- Cash on hand
- $0
Reporting date not available. ↳ FEC record H4AK00164(opens in a new tab)
Sources 6
- [1] Compare AK-AL House candidates 2026 | Smarter.Vote(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [2] 2026 Alaska voter guide: Compare the candidates in the ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
- [3] Toplines: September 2026 Times/Siena Poll of the Likely Electorate in Alaska(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
- [4] National Democratic group throws weight behind Bill Hill ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 18, 2026
- [5] Leading candidates in Alaska U.S. House race endorse ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 15, 2026
- [6] Eric Hafner, Registered Democrat(opens in a new tab) Aug 19, 2026