Polling Average
20%15%10%5%0%
8.2%
14%
12.5%
7.2%
5.3%
Alaska Governor winner? (Person)
$133.2K
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
EducationCuyahoga Community College (attended/AA)
Notable personal detailsShelley Hughes is an American politician and Republican who served in the Alaska Legislature, including in the Alaska House of Representatives (2013–2017) and the Alaska Senate (2017–2025). She served as Alaska Senate majority leader from 2021 to 2023 and later as minority leader in 2023–2025. In 2025 she announced a campaign for governor of Alaska in the 2026 election cycle, and in 2026 she named retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Blake Gettys as her running mate for lieutenant governor.
SourcesShowHide
akleg.goven.wikipedia.orgalaskapublic.orgktoo.orgwikidata.orgelections.alaska.govalaskabeacon.compolymarket.compolitics1.comthealaskastory.comadn.comnorthernjournal.combhfs.combgrdc.comdot.alaska.govpatrace.comtraining.akleg.govreddit.comalaskansforhughes.comdermotcole.comjustfacts.votesmart.orgthefreedomindex.orglegiscan.comjuneauindependent.comalaskasenateminority.commustreadalaska.comalaskasnewssource.comwrangellsentinel.comwashingtonpost.comabcnews.go.comimg2.washingtonpost.comseattletimes.comlatimes.comaxios.comsenate.govmurkowski.senate.govncsl.orghsgac.senate.govwhitehouse.govsullivan.senate.govnga.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orggovinfo.govcongress.govnass.org
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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