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‘Democrat’ in Alaska’s House Race Is Doing Time in a New York Prison
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- In the Alaska midterm elections, left-leaning voters received texts urging support for Eric Hafner, the only Democrat on the ballot for a U.S. House seat, despite him serving a 20-year federal prison sentence.
- Alaska and national Democratic leaders instead backed independent Bill Hill, highlighting a strategic choice to avoid supporting Hafner due to his incarceration.
- The origin of the texts supporting Hafner is unknown, raising suspicions of a tactic to confuse voters and potentially benefit Republican incumbent Nick Begich.
- Democrats in Alaska cite this incident as evidence of dirty tricks in the state’s elections, reminiscent of previous controversies involving alternative candidates.
- Hafner and his mother, his chief supporter, dismiss concerns about the texts’ source, focusing instead on the impact of his candidacy as a potential spoiler in the race.
