Bill Hill Announces Independent Bid for Alaska’s At-Large U.S. House Seat

As the 2026 election cycle begins to take shape, Alaskans are seeing a diverse field of candidates emerge for the state’s sole seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Among the latest developments is the announcement from Bill Hill, a commercial fisherman and former school district superintendent, who has filed to run as an Independent candidate.

For many voters, the entry of an Independent candidate raises questions about how the ballot will look and how the winner will ultimately be decided. Because Alaska uses a unique "Top-Four" primary and Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) system, the path to the U.S. House looks different here than in almost any other state.

The Non-Partisan Primary: No Party-Specific Hurdles

In many states, an Independent candidate must collect thousands of signatures just to bypass a "closed" primary where only Democrats or Republicans vote. However, in Alaska, we utilize a Non-Partisan Top-Four Primary.

• One Ballot for All: Every candidate, regardless of whether they are a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or Independent, appears on the exact same primary ballot.
• The "Top Four" Rule: All voters—regardless of their own party affiliation—vote for just one candidate in the primary. The four candidates who receive the most votes, no matter their party, advance to the General Election.
• What this means for Hill: As an Independent, Bill Hill does not have to win a "party" primary. He simply needs to be one of the top four finishers in the statewide primary to move on to the November ballot.

Understanding Ranked Choice Voting (RCV)

Once the field is narrowed to the top four candidates for the General Election, Alaska uses Ranked Choice Voting to determine the winner. This system ensures that the person elected has the broadest possible support from the electorate.

When you receive your General Election ballot, you aren't limited to picking just one person. Instead, you can rank the candidates in order of preference: 1st choice, 2nd choice, 3rd choice, and 4th choice.

How the Tally Works: A Hypothetical Example

To understand how RCV functions in practice, let’s look at a hypothetical scenario involving three candidates: a Republican, a Democrat, and an Independent (such as Bill Hill).

1. Round 1: The Division of Elections counts everyone's 1st choice votes. If any candidate gets more than 50% of the vote right away, they win instantly.
2. The Elimination: If no one has 50%, the candidate in last place is eliminated.
3. The Redistribution: If your 1st choice was the person eliminated, your vote doesn't disappear. Instead, it "transfers" to the person you ranked 2nd.

Example Scenario:

• Round 1 Results: * Republican Candidate: 42%
  
  • Independent (Hill): 30%
  • Democrat Candidate: 28%
• The Shift: Since no one hit 50%, the Democrat (in 3rd place) is eliminated.
• The Result: The Division looks at the ballots of the people who voted for the Democrat. If those voters chose Hill as their 2nd choice, those votes are added to his total. If enough of those voters preferred the Independent over the Republican, Hill could move from 2nd place to 1st place, surpassing 50% and winning the seat.

Why This Matters

This system is designed to eliminate the "spoiler effect," where voters feel they are "wasting" their vote on an Independent or third-party candidate. In Alaska, you can vote for an Independent as your first choice, knowing that if they don't win, your vote can still count toward your second choice.

As the 2026 election progresses, staying informed on these procedural nuances ensures that every Alaskan can make their voice heard effectively at the ballot box.

Published by Independent Center Action, a 501(c)(4) organization. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.