Rep. Nick Begich, a Republican from Alaska, is seeking re-election for his second term as the state’s only House representative. The race is notable for its competitive nature, with Begich facing 14 other candidates in the ranked-choice primary.

Among his challengers, Bill Hill emerges as a leading contender. Hill, an independent candidate, brings a diverse background as a commercial fisherman and a former school superintendent. His candidacy gained momentum last month when Matt Schultz, a prominent Democrat and Anchorage pastor, halted his campaign to throw support behind Hill.

Alaska uses a distinct open primary system, which allows all candidates regardless of party affiliation to appear on the ballot. From this pool, the top four candidates will proceed to the general election, intensifying the competition and leading to varied election strategies.