Politics

Democrat drops Anchorage House campaign, leaving an opening for an independent

The field of candidates seeking a Southwest Anchorage House seat has narrowed after Democrat Ed Cullinane said this week he would drop out of the race.

Cullinane's decision leaves incumbent Republican Rep. Liz Vazquez in the race with Jason Grenn, who this year changed his voter registration from Republican to undeclared when he decided to run for the seat as an independent.

Dustin Darden, the former Anchorage mayoral and Assembly candidate who has focused on removing fluoride from the city's water supply, is also running for that seat as the Alaskan Independence Party candidate, though he hasn't reported raising or spending any money.

Cullinane's decision appears to provide an opening for Grenn, who's running as a moderate. In a statement issued this week, Cullinane said he was dropping out because of "personal health issues," but he wouldn't elaborate when reached by phone Friday.

It's "premature" to say whether the Democratic Party will support Grenn's candidacy, said Kay Brown, the party's executive director.

"There are conversations going on," Brown said in a brief phone interview Friday. "No decision has been made."

Both Grenn and Vazquez have reported raising about $18,500 for their campaigns — though Vazquez's total includes $10,000 of her own money.

Nathaniel Herz

Anchorage-based independent journalist Nathaniel Herz has been a reporter in Alaska for nearly a decade, with stints at the Anchorage Daily News and Alaska Public Media. Read his newsletter, Northern Journal, at natherz.substack.com

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