Eric Hafner advances to Alaska House general election from federal prison

Eric Hafner, a registered Democrat currently serving a sentence in a New York federal prison, has advanced to the general election for Alaska’s lone U.S. House seat. Hafner, who pleaded guilty in 2022 to making death threats against judges and law enforcement officials, is expected to be released in 2036.

Hafner’s advancement is a result of Alaska’s election system, which allows the top four primary finishers to move on to the general election regardless of party affiliation. Although Hafner finished significantly behind third-place Democrat Matt Schultz, Schultz withdrew from the race, leaving the spot to Hafner.

The move is expected to trigger legal challenges, as the U.S. Constitution requires candidates to reside in the state they represent at the time of the election. Hafner’s filed candidate information listed a South Dakota mailing address and a New York phone number, both belonging to his mother, Carol Hafner, who also ran in the state’s U.S. Senate primary. Neither Hafner nor his mother appear to have ties to Alaska. The other major candidates in the race include incumbent Republican Representative Nick Begich and independent Bill Hill.