Anchorage, Alaska – Anchorage mayoral candidate Suzanne LaFrance took an early lead over incumbent Dave Bronson in the preliminary runoff election results released on Tuesday night. LaFrance secured 55% of the vote, giving her a 10-point advantage over Mayor Bronson, who garnered 45%.
During an interview following the release of the initial results, LaFrance expressed her excitement, optimism, and gratitude towards her supporters for reaching this point. LaFrance, who previously chaired the Assembly during Bronson’s first two years in office, highlighted the challenges that lie ahead for the city and emphasized the importance of working together to address them.
Bronson, on the other hand, remained optimistic at his campaign’s election night gathering, noting that the final count was still pending. Drawing parallels to his 2021 mayoral runoff, Bronson expressed confidence in his ability to narrow the gap as additional ballots are tallied in this election as well.
In contrast to the narrow margin in the 2021 runoff, where Bronson faced a tight race with his opponent, LaFrance’s current lead of 4,973 votes poses a significant challenge for Bronson to overcome with remaining ballots. Both candidates have received support from key figures in state government and Republican party politics.
Throughout the campaign, Bronson’s messaging has focused on critiquing the Assembly and promoting a balance in city governance, while LaFrance has criticized Bronson for his handling of city issues and pledged to bring a collaborative, nonpartisan approach to the mayor’s office.
If LaFrance emerges victorious, she will make history as the first woman elected as Anchorage’s mayor. However, she would not be the first woman to hold the office, as former West Anchorage Assembly member Austin Quinn-Davidson served as interim mayor after Ethan Berkowitz’s resignation in 2020.
As the election results continue to unfold, with thousands of ballots still to be counted, the final outcome remains uncertain. The certification of the results by the Anchorage Assembly on May 31 will determine the official winner, marking a significant moment in the city’s political landscape.