On June 28, Senator Lyman Hoffman (D – Bethel) announced he will not seek re-election in 2026, ending a 40-year career in the Legislature. This confirmed months long rumors that he was planning on retiring.

Three days after Hoffman’s announcement, House Speaker Bryce Edgmon (I – Dillingham) filed a letter of intent, but left the office section blank. This is not uncommon for candidates who want to keep their options open. The decision ultimately needs to be made by June 1, the candidate filing deadline. 

It has been widely assumed by political insiders that Edgmon will run for Hoffman’s vacant seat. Hoffman even told the Alaska Beacon, “I’m going to go back and become a civilian, and I’m going to talk with Rep. Edgmon and encourage him to file for my seat.” 

But six months later, Edgmon has still not announced if he will run for the open Senate seat. Edgmon, the longest serving member of the House, was first elected in 2006. He served as speaker from 2017-2021 and again since 2025. 

In comparison, when Senate President Gary Stevens (R – Kodiak) announced his retirement in May, Representative Louise Stutes (R – Kodiak), a former speaker herself, immediately announced she would run for his open Senate seat.  

So why has Edgmon, an experienced and accomplished legislator, been cagey about his decision to run for the Senate? There are three main reasons. 

The first is risk. Edgmon is speaker and is guaranteed re-election to his House seat. He would likely be speaker again, or in senior leadership, if he stays in the House. 

If he runs for the Senate, he would be very likely to win but it would not be as certain as staying in the House. Running for the Senate means his district would double. He would have to campaign in the Bethel region, where he has not been on the ballot since 1994 – when he actually ran against Hoffman. In that 1994 race, Hoffman defeated Edgmon 50.5% to 44.5%. Leonard Freitas got 4.9%. 

And if he went to the Senate, he would be brand new. Edgmon basically rules the roost in the House. In the Senate, he would need to contend with the likes of Senator Bert Stedman (R – Sitka) for control or influence over the finance committee.

The second is Calista. Calista can exert considerable money and influence in the Bethel region. If Edgmon runs for the Senate, it’s conceivable Calista would back a candidate to challenge him. This would mean Edgmon would be in a race much more competitive than he is used to. Calista, a big supporter of the Donlin Mine, aren’t happy about an anti-mining bill Edgmon introduced at the end of session. 

The third is power. If Edgmon decides to run for the Senate, an immediate power struggle will ensue in the House for who will be his successor as speaker. Representatives Calvin Schrage (I – Anchorage) and Chuck Kopp (R – Anchorage) have both expressed the desire to be speaker. Edgmon may be trying to delay his decision as long as possible in order to limit posturing and positioning by majority members during the upcoming legislative session. 

Edgmon is probably also trying to find a suitable successor in the Dillingham region to run for his House seat should he decide to run for the Senate. 

So far, no one has filed to run for the open Senate seat. Representative Nellie Jimmie (D – Tooksok Bay), who represents the Bethel region, filed a letter of intent in June to run for re-election to her House seat.