Edna DeVries
Edna DeVries is the Mayor of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and a Republican candidate for Governor of Alaska in the 2026 election. A former Alaska state senator, Palmer city council member and mayor, and former Republican National Committeewoman, she has held elected office for decades. Her campaign emphasizes government transparency, fiscal responsibility through zero-based budgeting, school choice, responsible resource development including the LNG pipeline, and full statutory Permanent Fund Dividend payments.
Positions on Key Issues
| Issue | Stance | Confidence | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Edna DeVries supports school choice, with Base Student Allocation (BSA) funding following the student. She advocates for expanding vocational and trade education pathways, supporting homeschool families and alternative education options, and investing in strong public schools. She believes parents — not the state — should be the primary decision-makers in their child's education. | high | |
| Economy | Edna DeVries supports zero-based budgeting to balance the state budget and reduce waste, including auditing agencies for overlap and ensuring a separate, statutory Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) appropriation. She also backs responsible resource development, including advancing the LNG pipeline, to create private-sector jobs and lower energy costs for Alaska families and businesses. | high | |
| Tech & AI | Edna DeVries advocates for public engagement and oversight in AI deployment. She supports public comment periods before major AI deployments, establishes advisory boards to evaluate AI use, and calls for banning 'black box' systems that cannot be audited, with transparency and human oversight in government AI decisions. | high | |
| Local Issues | Edna DeVries prioritizes government transparency and accountability at both state and local levels, aiming to reduce bureaucracy and keep Alaskans informed about decisions that affect their communities. She also supports responsible resource development and community-first investment to strengthen local economies and support families and small businesses. | high | |
| Healthcare | No public position found after repeated research attempts. | low | No supporting sources |
| Climate/Energy | No public position found after repeated research attempts. | low | No supporting sources |
| Abortion & Reproductive Health | No public position found after repeated research attempts. | low | No supporting sources |
| Immigration | No public position found after repeated research attempts. | low | No supporting sources |
| Firearms & Second Amendment | No public position found after repeated research attempts. | low | No supporting sources |
| Foreign Policy | No public position found after repeated research attempts. | low | No supporting sources |
| Civil Rights & Equality | No public position found after repeated research attempts. | low | No supporting sources |
| Election Policy | No public position found after repeated research attempts. | low | No supporting sources |
Education
highEdna DeVries supports school choice, with Base Student Allocation (BSA) funding following the student. She advocates for expanding vocational and trade education pathways, supporting homeschool families and alternative education options, and investing in strong public schools. She believes parents — not the state — should be the primary decision-makers in their child's education.
Economy
highEdna DeVries supports zero-based budgeting to balance the state budget and reduce waste, including auditing agencies for overlap and ensuring a separate, statutory Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) appropriation. She also backs responsible resource development, including advancing the LNG pipeline, to create private-sector jobs and lower energy costs for Alaska families and businesses.
Tech & AI
highEdna DeVries advocates for public engagement and oversight in AI deployment. She supports public comment periods before major AI deployments, establishes advisory boards to evaluate AI use, and calls for banning 'black box' systems that cannot be audited, with transparency and human oversight in government AI decisions.
Local Issues
highEdna DeVries prioritizes government transparency and accountability at both state and local levels, aiming to reduce bureaucracy and keep Alaskans informed about decisions that affect their communities. She also supports responsible resource development and community-first investment to strengthen local economies and support families and small businesses.
Healthcare
lowNo public position found after repeated research attempts.
No supporting sources available
Climate/Energy
lowNo public position found after repeated research attempts.
No supporting sources available
Abortion & Reproductive Health
lowNo public position found after repeated research attempts.
No supporting sources available
Immigration
lowNo public position found after repeated research attempts.
No supporting sources available
Firearms & Second Amendment
lowNo public position found after repeated research attempts.
No supporting sources available
Foreign Policy
lowNo public position found after repeated research attempts.
No supporting sources available
Civil Rights & Equality
lowNo public position found after repeated research attempts.
No supporting sources available
Election Policy
lowNo public position found after repeated research attempts.
No supporting sources available
Background
Career History
Elected Borough Mayor in November 2021; currently serving.
Served as mayor for over five years.
Served on Palmer City Council.
Served in the Alaska State Senate representing the Palmer area.
Previously served as Mat-Su Borough Mayor.
Served as Alaska's Republican National Committeewoman.
Served as a Mat-Su Borough Assembly member prior to becoming mayor.
Earlier term on the Palmer City Council.
Top Donors
DeVries reported raising approximately $10,985 through early February 2026, with roughly $9,400 cash on hand — one of the smaller war chests among major candidates. Her fundraising was heavily reliant on small-dollar contributions and she did not report significant self-funding or large individual donations. The Alaska Watchman reported she raised $10,985 and the ADN reported just under $11,000.
Voting Record
DeVries has never held state legislative office. She has been Mayor of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough since November 2021 and previously served on the Palmer City Council. As mayor, she vetoed a resolution supporting a large data center project, advocated for limited government, and supported large Permanent Fund dividends based on the traditional formula. Her campaign website emphasizes limited government and a lifetime of service.
Sources
About this research
Data compiled from public sources and analyzed using AI. Last updated 7/11/2026. Visit candidate websites for the most current information.