Nearly 2,000 evacuees from the devasting typhoon that hit Western Alaska arrived in Anchorage this week. The Alaska Federation of Natives held their annual convention in Anchorage. Anti-Trump protests took place all over Alaska on Saturday (10/18/2025), including a large one in Anchorage. Representative Nick Begich (R – Alaska) has picked up a Democratic challenger, and he’s a real doozy. Representative Andy Josephson (D – Anchorage), one of the House Finance co-chairs, is not seeking re-election next year – two Democrats have already filed to run for his seat. And several homicides occurred this week in Anchorage. 

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Typhoon Halong

Evacuees from several villages in Western Alaska devasted by Typhoon Halong arrived in Anchorage this week. Most arrived via a large airlift on an Alaska Air National Guard C-17, while some flew on commercial flights from Bethel. The Red Cross and other relief agencies are hosting evacuees at the Alaska Airlines Center and Egan Center. 

Governor Mike Dunleavy (R – Alaska) was at the Alaska Airlines Center on Wednesday (10/15/2025) and was in direct communication with President Donald Trump. Dunleavy told me he thinks the evacuation is the largest airlift in Alaska’s history.  

The Anchorage Assembly held a special meeting on Friday (10/17/2025) where a special emergency declaration was declared. Speaker Bryce Edgmon (I – Dillingham) and Representative Nellie Jimmie (D – Tooksok Bay) were present at the meeting and both spoke about the disaster.

Dunleavy declared a state of emergency but a federal disaster declaration has not yet been declared by President Trump. Dunleavy, legislators, and the Alaska Federation of Natives are all calling for a federal disaster declaration, but the ongoing federal government shutdown seems to be delaying that. 

It’s unclear what the plan is for Anchorage to absorb all of these evacuees. Housing continues to be a major issue in Anchorage due to our Kafkaesque zoning and building codes. Vacancy rates for rentals in Anchorage remain very low. It’s going to be interesting to see how the city and state deal with this problem as winter is quickly approaching. 

Andy is Out

Representative Andy Josephson (D – Anchorage) will not seek re-election next year. Josephson has served in the House since first being elected in 2012. He currently oversees the operating budget in the House as one of the finance co-chairs.

Two Democrats filed letter of intent today to run for the open seat – Anchorage Assembly Felix Rivera and Lisa Keller.

Rivera is termed out on the Assembly in April. Keller recently worked as a legislative staffer to Josephson and is the former host of the Alaska Public Media show Outdoor Explorer. 

Josephson joins a list of representatives who won’t be returning to the House next year:

• Representative David Nelson (R – Anchorage) is not seeking re-election.
• Representative George Rauscher (R – Sutton) is running for Senator Mike Shower’s (R – Wasilla) open Senate seat. Shower is Republican gubernatorial candidate Bernadette Wilson’s running mate. 
• Representative Cathy Tilton (R – Wasilla) is running for Senator Shelley Hughes‘ (R – Palmer) open Senate seat. Hughes is running for governor. 
• Representative Louise Stutes (R – Kodiak) is running for Senate President Gary Stevens (R – Kodiak) Senate seat. Stevens is retiring. 
• While Speaker Bryce Edgmon (I – Dillingham) has not yet declared, it’s likely he will run for Senator Lyman Hoffman’s (D – Bethel) Senate seat. Hoffman is also retiring. 

Other Happenings 

The Alaska Federation of Natives held their annual convention in Anchorage this week. Former Representative Mary Peltola was expected to announce whether she plans to run for governor, run against Senator Dan Sullivan (R – Alaska), or continue to earn a large salary at Holland & Hart, but she failed to make any announcement. Many Democrats are starting to get frustrated with Pelota’s indecisiveness. Former State Senator Tom Begich, a Democrat, is running for governor but he says he will withdraw if Peltola runs, causing uncertainty for donors and party types.  

If the price of oil continues to go down, the upcoming legislative session is going to be particularly loose. 

The Crooked Adam Crum saga continues! I can’t wait to see the answers to these questions. 

Sarah Oates Harlow is no longer the President & CEO of the Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association (CHARR), effective October 10, 2025. She’s been in the role since 2018. They are now looking for a replacement.

Leila Kimbrell has resigned as executive director of the Resource Development Councill, effective October 30. She’s been in the role since 2022. Their annual conference is November 12-13…

The Alaska Oil & Gas Association seemed to have finalized their search for a new CEO, but the candidate they offered the position to has not yet accepted. There’s been a lot of chatter about this in resource circles during the last week. Longtime CEO Kara Moriarty left the position in May to take a job at the Department of Interior. 

Anchorage is just having a great week. First, there was a homicide at the Circle K on 36th and C Street on Wednesday. Then, two days later there was a double homicide on 8th and Cordova. The transformation to Gotham is nearly complete. 

The level of Trump Derangement Syndrome in this crowd was beyond measurement.  

This Week’s Loose Unit 

This week’s designee was going to be Republican gubernatorial candidate Bernadette Wilson for this very loose email her campaign sent out. But a last minute development changed that. This week’s Loose Unit is Democrat Matt Schultz. 

Earlier this week it became clear that Schultz, a pastor at the Anchorage First Presbyterian Church, was planning to run for something. But it became known today when he announced at his church that he will challenge Representative Nick Begich (R – Alaska). Schultz must not be familiar with the Johnson Amendment. Classic Loose Unit behavior. 

If you are not familiar with Schultz from social media or his community appearances, you are in for a real treat. I’m not sure if a more self-righteous woke person lives in Anchorage. This campaign is going to be maximum loose. Here are just a few examples of the degree of loose we are dealing with here. My favorite is how American flags at the cemetery on the Fourth of July trigger him. Maximum loose! 

If you have a nomination for this week’s Loose Unit, or if you have any political news, stories or gossip (or any old pics of politicians or public officials) please email me at jeff@alaskalandmine.com.