Matt Claman drops out of Alaska governor’s race

Mark Sabbatini
4 minutes ago
2 min read

State senator from Anchorage says he faced tough odds to finish among to four in August primary, isn’t endorsing another candidate right now

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

This is a developing story.

State Sen. Matt Claman, D-Anchorage, announced Saturday he is withdrawing as a candidate for governor, leaving two Democrats among the 17 remaining candidates.

Claman, the only active legislator to declare as a candidate in the race, said in an interview Saturday he made a final decision to withdraw Friday night because he was facing long odds to be among the top four finishers in the Aug. 18 open primary. Those four candidates will compete in a ranked choice vote in the Nov. 3 general election.

"I wanted to be involved and see how the public responded, and I think it's a challenge to get to the final four," he said.

He said he is not endorsing any of the remaining candidates at this time. The other two Democratic candidates are former state senator Tom Begich of Anchorage and former state representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins of Sitka.

In a press release issued Saturday, Claman stated "we have decided to step away from the field, feeling confident that our key issues will be addressed and carried forward by other candidates who I know will provide leadership that Alaska needs right now."

Saturday is the last day for candidates to withdraw from this year’s state races.

Claman, a member of the Senate since 2023, was reelected to a full four-year term in 2024 as part of the state’s redistricting process. He has also served in the Alaska House, and as Anchorage’s mayor and an Assembly member.

Claman’s running mate was Sarah Skeel, a former chief administrative officer at Providence Alaska Medical Center.

"Running on this ticket with Matt has been an inspiring experience as I have had the opportunity to meet Alaskans and hear firsthand about the challenges facing our state," she said in a prepared statement. "Working to improve the health and welfare of Alaskans will always be my life's goal. To serve the state in this capacity has fueled a long standing interest in public service."

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.