Inmate in New York moves toward Alaska House ballot despite residency questions

Eric Hafner, a Democrat serving time in a federal prison in New York, has advanced from Alaska’s primary for the state’s only US House seat, according to The Guardian. He is not the leading candidate, but Alaska’s election rules allow the top four primary finishers to proceed to the general election regardless of party affiliation. Hafner received 5,757 votes after 93% of ballots had been counted. He qualified to move forward after Democrat Matt Schultz, who finished ahead of him, withdrew from the general election and was therefore ineligible to advance. The fourth-place finisher had not yet been determined when the report was published. The result could bring renewed legal scrutiny. The US Constitution requires a House candidate to live in the state the candidate would represent at the time of the election. In paperwork filed with Alaska, Hafner listed a Box Elder, South Dakota, mailing address and a New York telephone number matching those of his mother, Carol Hafner. The report said neither appeared to have ties to Alaska. Hafner also ran for the same seat in 2024 and made it onto that year’s general-election ballot after the Alaska Democratic Party challenged his candidacy. The Guardian reported that another challenge is almost certain following his latest primary success. Hafner pleaded guilty in 2022 to charges involving threats against police officers, judges and others. He is scheduled to remain imprisoned until 2036. The major candidates in the current race include Republican incumbent Nick Begich and independent Bill Hill, a commercial fisher and retired educator. Hafner’s mother, Carol Hafner, also previously ran unsuccessfully for office and this year entered Alaska’s Republican primary for the US Senate.