Westlake leads Nageak as DOE works to resolve District 40 election

The Alaska Division of Elections is still working to certify the results of the House race for the district that includes North Slope and Northwest Arctic boroughs.

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Dean Westlake is challenging Barrow Rep. Bennie Nageak in the Democratic primary; in 2014, Westlake lost the race by 131 votes. Photo: Rachel Waldholz/Alaska’s Energy Desk
Dean Westlake is challenging Barrow Rep. Bennie Nageak in the Democratic primary; in 2014, Westlake lost the race by 131 votes. (Photo by Rachel Waldholz, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Anchorage)

Division Director Josie Bahnke said the division’s office in Juneau is waiting for the ballots to be mailed in from four precincts in District 40: Selawik, Browerville, Anaktuvuk Pass, and Ambler.

Bahnke had said the election review board was aiming to certify the results on Monday. But that action is delayed until the division receives all of the ballots. Bahnke said she still expects to certify the results by Friday.

“Right now, it’s just a matter of the mail service,” Bahnke said.

Dean Westlake leads incumbent Representative Benjamin Nageak by 21 votes, according to last vote count.

The trailing candidate or 10 qualified voters will have five days after the review is completed to ask for a recount.

Andrew Kitchenman is the state government and politics reporter for Alaska Public Media and KTOO in Juneau. Reach him at akitchenman@alaskapublic.org.

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