The Ballot Brief
Bethel Census Area, Alaska

Alaska House District 38

4 candidates are tracked for Alaska House District 38 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Joseph R. Amik, Nellie "Unangiq" Jimmie, WIlly Keppel and CJ McCormick. Candidate information follows official Bethel Census Area election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Joseph R. Amik (Nonpartisan), Nellie "Unangiq" Jimmie (Democratic), WIlly Keppel (Republican), CJ McCormick (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for Alaska House District 38; Nellie "Unangiq" Jimmie is the sitting member, per the Legislature's official member table (akleg.gov). The field advanced from the August 18, 2026 top-four open primary; the general election uses ranked-choice voting, and the party shown is each candidate's registration as printed by the Division of Elections.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Nellie "Unangiq" Jimmie, is on the ballot.

Alaska › Bethel Census Area › Alaska House District 38

Joseph R. Amik

Nonpartisan

Top priorities
  • Support a full Permanent Fund Dividend
  • Protect fishing and hunting rights for Yukon and Kuskokwim River communities

Per the statement filed for the Alaska Division of Elections' 2026 Official Election Pamphlet.

Biography

Joseph R. Amik, a nonpartisan candidate from Napaskiak, previously served as mayor and city administrator of Napaskiak and worked for a telecommunications company for about 20 years, per the statement filed for the Alaska Division of Elections' 2026 Official Election Pamphlet. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.

Nellie "Unangiq" Jimmie

Nellie "Unangiq" Jimmie

Democratic Incumbent

Biography

Nellie "Unangiq" Jimmie has represented Alaska House District 38 since January 2025, per her Alaska State Legislature member page. She has lived in Bethel, Toksook Bay, and Anchorage/Palmer over 43 years of Alaska residency, and her family owns Bayview General Merchandise Inc. in Toksook Bay, per the same source. She also serves as the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative board representative for Toksook Bay, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 21, 2026.

WIlly Keppel

Republican

Top priorities
  • Oppose the Donlin Mine project in western Alaska
  • Support term limits and spending caps for the legislature
  • Support as large a Permanent Fund Dividend as possible and prioritize rural subsistence

Per the statement filed for the Alaska Division of Elections' 2026 Official Election Pamphlet.

Biography

Willy Keppel, a registered Republican from Quinhagak, works as an Alaska game guide and previously hosted a political radio program serving Dillingham and Bethel for six years, per the statement filed for the Alaska Division of Elections' 2026 Official Election Pamphlet. He served in the U.S. Army and has held positions on the Bethel City Council, Planning Commission, and Parks and Recreation and Alternative Energy commissions, per the same statement. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.

CJ McCormick

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Protect subsistence rights by prioritizing rural users
  • Strengthen public safety and emergency preparedness for the YK Delta
  • Expand housing and childcare opportunities and lower the cost of living

Per the statement filed for the Alaska Division of Elections' 2026 Official Election Pamphlet.

Biography

CJ McCormick, of Bethel, previously represented Alaska House District 38, per Alaska Public Media. He served on the Bethel City Council from 2020 to 2022, including as Vice Mayor, and has worked as a Communications Specialist at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation and as Government Relations Manager at the Association of Village Council Presidents, per his Alaska Division of Elections candidate filing.

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Alaska House District 38 in 2026?

4 candidates are tracked for Alaska House District 38 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Joseph R. Amik, Nellie "Unangiq" Jimmie, WIlly Keppel and CJ McCormick. Candidate information follows official Bethel Census Area election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Alaska House District 38 election in Alaska?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Alaska are on the Alaska election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Bethel Census Area ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Bethel Census Area and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Alaska election office, or see the full Bethel Census Area sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Bethel Census Area ballot

3 tracked races in Bethel Census Area, Alaska. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Alaska House District 37See all 3 Bethel Census Area races
Candidate profiles
Joseph R. Amik, full profileNellie "Unangiq" Jimmie, full profileWIlly Keppel, full profileCJ McCormick, full profileOfficial Alaska election office