Candidate for Competitive Alaska House Seat Has Never Been to the State — and Is Currently in a N.Y. Prison

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:Getty

Getty

A man serving a 20-year federal prison sentence in New York is on the ballot in Alaska — a state in which he’s never stepped foot — potentially affecting one of the most closely watched House races in the country.

Eric Hafner, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2023 for threatening public officials, was able to enter Alaska’s nonpartisan primary for the state’s lone U.S. House of Representatives seat after mailing an application from prison,The New York Timesreported, despite having never even visited the at-large district.

In Alaska, the top four primary finishers advance to the general election, regardless of party. Hafner, running as a Democrat, finished sixth, getting fewer than 500 votes. But when the Republicans who finished third and fourth in the primary dropped out, Hafner advanced to the general.

Alaska is one of the few states that uses ranked-choice voting for statewide races. So while Hafner has a minuscule chance of winning the race, he could still very much have an impact.

With the House majority hanging in the balance, Democrats are desperate to hold onto the seat in their bid to retake control of the chamber, while Republicans are hoping to flip a seat they had previously held for almost 50 years.

Speaking toThe New York Times,a Republican strategist in Alaska says Hafner could potentially costPeltola— whose main opponent is GOP candidate Nick Begich III — her seat if enough people vote for him and don’t rank the incumbent second on their ballot.

“The chances of Eric Hafner having an impact on this election are legitimate and real,” strategist Matt Shuckerow told the paper. “This is an extremely tight race and every vote will count.”

Eric Hafner.elections.alaska.gov

elections.alaska.gov

NPRreported that Democrats have unsuccessfully tried to have Hafner removed from the ballot. In September, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that Hafner could remain on it.

“I’m a progressive, I’ll work with Bernie Sanders and AOC to implement a better America for working class Americans,” Hafner told the outlet. “I support Medicare For All. I support free college. I support student loan debt relief.”

Candidates do not need to live in the state in which they are running, as long as they move there once elected, theTimesreported. NPR reported that Hafner has previously run for congressional seats in Hawaii and Oregon.

Hafner currently resides at FCI Otisville in Orange County, N.Y., according to prison records, more than 3,000 miles away from Alaska.

TheU.S. Attorney for the District of New Jerseysays Hafner made threatening calls and emails to public officials in Monmouth County, N.J., where he once lived.

Hafner pleaded guilty in 2022 to one count of making threatening communications in interstate or foreign commerce with intent to extort, one count of making threatening communications in interstate or foreign commerce, and one count of conveying false information concerning the use of an explosive device. He was sentenced to 240 months in prison.

If he is miraculously elected to Congress, Hafner hopes he will be released so he is able to serve his would-be constituents.

source: people.com