Governor
Bill Walker
Nonpartisan candidate for Governor
Heidi Drygas, 44, lives in Juneau. From 2014 to 2018, she was commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development. She’s an attorney and Alaska District Council of Laborers, general counsel. She received a B.A. from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and a J.D. from Willamette University College of Law.
Charlie Pierce
Republican candidate for Governor
(Editor’s note: Grunwald dropped out of the race on Oct. 26 after Pierce was sued for sexual harassment. Her name still appears on the ballot.)Edie Grunwald, 59, lives in Palmer. She served as chair of the Alaska Board of Parole for three years (2019-2022), and state director of the Selective Service System for two years (2019-2021). Prior to that, Edie served for 31 years in the United States military. She has a master’s in strategy in national and military security from the Air War College and a master’s in business organizational management from the University of LaVerne.
Les Gara
Democratic candidate for Governor
Jessica Cook, 51, is a teacher who lives in Palmer. She graduated from Chugiak High School before getting her Bachelor of Arts in Education from Coastal Carolina University. She has a Master of Science in Education from Wilkes University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Grand Canyon University.
Mike Dunleavy
Republican candidate for Governor
Nancy Dahlstrom, 65, lives in Eagle River and most recently served as the commissioner of the Department of Corrections. Prior to that she was a consultant with WEKA, the executive director of the Alaska Workforce Investment Board and worked in the Parnell administration. She attended Wayland Baptist University, where she received an A.A. and B.S. in human services. Her master’s in organizational management is from Business University of LaVerne. She attended the U.S. Army War College in 2004.