Man in prison in New York advances in primary for Alaska’s US House seat

Eric Hafner, a federal prisoner in New York, advanced to the primary for Alaska's lone U.S. House seat on Wednesday. Despite no clear ties to Alaska, Hafner secured a spot on the general election ballot, surpassing the third-place candidate, Democrat Matt Schultz, who later withdrew. Hafner, a registered Democrat, previously ran for the seat in 2024 and was challenged by the Alaska Democratic Party.

The leading candidates in the race are incumbent Republican Rep. Nick Begich and independent Bill Hill, a commercial fisherman and retired educator. Hafner's success raises questions about his eligibility due to the U.S. Constitution's requirement for candidates to live in the state they will represent at the time of the election.

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