Polling Average
20%15%10%5%0%
8.2%
14%
12.5%
7.2%
5.3%
Alaska Governor winner? (Person)
$183.1K
NOV 7, 2026
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Overview
Current roleFormer State Senator
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age68 years old (Jan 6, 1958)
GenderFemale
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LocationAlaska
BackgroundPolitician
EducationUniversity of Alaska, B.A. in English (2002)
Notable personal detailsShelley Hughes is an American politician in Alaska who served in the Alaska House of Representatives (2013–2016) and the Alaska Senate (2017–2025), including as Alaska Senate Majority Leader (2021–2022). She resigned from the Alaska Senate on November 14, 2025 to focus on a gubernatorial campaign. Her professional background includes government affairs work in health care and education-related roles, as well as community and volunteer leadership in the Mat-Su area.
SourcesShowHide
akleg.govalaskansforhughes.comktoo.orgen.wikipedia.orgwikidata.orgloc.govsenate.govhistory.house.govelections.alaska.govcapito.senate.govballotclarity.orgsheenahughes.comalaska.edupalegis.usdata.ballotpedia.orgballotready.orggovinfo.govhughes128.comlegilist.comalaskapublic.orgadn.comdermotcole.comjustfacts.votesmart.orgthefreedomindex.orgalaskabeacon.comlegiscan.comjuneauindependent.comalaskasenateminority.commustreadalaska.comalaskasnewssource.comwrangellsentinel.comfacebook.cominstagram.comalaskawatchman.comalaskalandmine.commanilatimes.netffa.orglda.senate.govdocquery.fec.govmurkowski.senate.govclerk.house.govfec.govjudiciary.senate.govncsl.orgnga.orgsullivan.senate.govcongress.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Opposes new or higher state taxes (including opposing an income tax) and has pledged to oppose tax increases; supports stable/competitive tax treatment for oil and resource development and favors fiscal discipline and expanding the tax base rather than raising rates.
Healthcare
The candidate has shown mixed positions on healthcare: earlier she publicly opposed Medicaid expansion, but legislative records show she voted with the majority on at least one Medicaid expansion measure (postpartum coverage). She has also emphasized reducing costs via market-based measures like price transparency and pharmacy benefit management.
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Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate has sponsored multiple state constitutional amendments that would clarify the Alaska Constitution does not protect a right to abortion and would prohibit state funding for abortions. She has repeatedly advanced resolutions to allow the Legislature and voters to limit abortion access in Alaska.
Climate & Energy
Supports development of Alaska’s natural-resource projects (including Alaska LNG and other energy infrastructure) to achieve affordable, state-led energy and economic growth while pairing gas development with hydro and promoting responsible resource development. Emphasizes energy independence and reducing imported energy costs rather than endorsing aggressive emissions-target policies.
Public Safety & Guns
Shelley Hughes has advocated expanding the presence of armed, trained individuals in schools by sponsoring legislation (SB 173) to allow or assign qualified staff or volunteers to carry concealed handguns on school grounds. Her public materials emphasize protecting liberties and support policies that increase armed protection and bolster law enforcement presence in communities.
Polls
Alaska Governor winner? (Person)
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
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