The Ballot Brief
Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska

Alaska Senate District M

4 candidates are tracked for Alaska Senate District M on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Ryan Berry, Patricia R. Chesbro, Cathy L. Tilton and Zane Vrvilo. Candidate information follows official Matanuska Susitna Borough election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Ryan Berry (Republican), Patricia R. Chesbro (Democratic), Cathy L. Tilton (Republican), Zane Vrvilo (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Alaska Senate District M; Cathy L. Tilton is the sitting member, per the Legislature's official member table (akleg.gov). Not on the November ballot: Sen. Hughes, Sen. Shower, sitting members for the district per the same table. 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, Cathy L. Tilton, is on the ballot.

Alaska › Matanuska Susitna Borough › Alaska Senate District M

Ryan Berry

Republican

Top priorities
  • Backs finishing the rail line to Port MacKenzie and bringing new Cook Inlet gas online
  • Calls for funding schools that deliver results and for giving parents school choice
  • Wants the Permanent Fund dividend formula followed as written and opposes a state sales or income tax

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Ryan Berry is running for Alaska Senate District M. He describes his focus as bringing practical leadership to the Mat-Su Valley, per his campaign site. No detailed occupation or career history was found on the site beyond his platform statements.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Patricia R. Chesbro

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Increase stable, proactive funding for Alaska schools rather than reactive budget cuts tied to oil revenue
  • Raise the Base Student Allocation to keep pace with inflation

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Chesbro spent 25 years teaching at Palmer High School before serving as principal, school district superintendent, and an assistant professor of educational leadership at the University of Alaska Anchorage, per the campaign site. She has lived in Alaska since 1974 and serves on the boards of the Palmer Museum of History and Art and the Palmer Community Foundation, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
Cathy L. Tilton

Cathy L. Tilton

Republican Incumbent

Top priorities
  • Pursue fiscal discipline and protect the Permanent Fund Dividend
  • Uphold what she describes as Alaskan values in the state Senate

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Tilton holds an accounting certificate from Alaska Business College and has represented State House District 26 since 2014, serving as Speaker of the House and Minority Leader, per the campaign site. She has lived in the Mat-Su Valley since 1980, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Zane Vrvilo

Republican

Top priorities
  • Increase funding and support for students and teachers
  • Support full monetization of natural gas resources through projects like Alaska LNG while protecting salmon runs and fisheries
  • Address the high cost of living, housing and energy while protecting the Permanent Fund Dividend

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Vrvilo works as a chemical operator on the North Slope and holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Northern Arizona University, per the campaign site. He was born and raised in Palmer, Alaska, and describes himself as a lifelong fisherman running a self-funded campaign, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
Next on your ballotAlaska Senate District O

See your full ballot

Your address is only used to match your districts.

Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

Who is running for Alaska Senate District M in 2026?

4 candidates are tracked for Alaska Senate District M on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Ryan Berry, Patricia R. Chesbro, Cathy L. Tilton and Zane Vrvilo. Candidate information follows official Matanuska Susitna Borough election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Alaska Senate District M 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 Matanuska-Susitna Borough 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 Matanuska-Susitna Borough and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Alaska election office, or see the full Matanuska Susitna Borough sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Matanuska-Susitna Borough ballot

14 tracked races in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Alaska House District 25Alaska House District 26Alaska House District 27See all 14 Matanuska-Susitna Borough races
Candidate profiles
Ryan Berry, full profilePatricia R. Chesbro, full profileCathy L. Tilton, full profileZane Vrvilo, full profileOfficial Alaska election office