Vacancy in House District 40, Governor Seeks Applicants to Fill Seat
Representative Josiah Patkotak vacated his Alaska House seat for District 40 after his November 17 election as North Slope Borough mayor, creating a vacancy that Governor Mike Dunleavy has opened for applications. The appointment process matters to North Slope residents because it will change representation in Juneau and could shift legislative priorities affecting local communities.
The Alaska governor has opened an application window to fill the House District 40 seat left vacant when Representative Josiah Patkotak resigned following his election as North Slope Borough mayor on November 17, 2025. Applicants must reside in District 40 and meet statutory qualifications to be considered. Because Patkotak served as an undeclared independent legislator, the usual party consultation process for filling legislative vacancies does not apply, and the governor will appoint a successor directly after the application window closes.
District 40 covers a vast Arctic region including Utqiagvik, Point Hope, Wainwright, the Prudhoe Bay area and surrounding communities. That geographic scope means the new appointee will represent remote villages, energy industry interests, subsistence users and borough government concerns during the next session in Juneau. Local priorities such as infrastructure funding, emergency services, coastal erosion response and Arctic economic development are likely to be part of whatever agenda the new representative brings.
The appointment process follows state statute and seeks candidates who meet residency and eligibility requirements. The governor announced the application window and directed residents to the governor’s official website for application forms and instructions. The specific application deadline and submission details are posted on the governor’s website, and the governor will make an appointment after the window closes.
For residents of the North Slope Borough, the change in representation will be tangible at the start of the next legislative session. An appointed member could shift committee assignments and caucus alignments, which in turn could affect funding decisions and policy focus for Arctic communities. Local organizations and municipal leaders will likely monitor the appointment and engage with the new representative to ensure borough priorities remain visible in Juneau.
Voters in District 40 will have the opportunity to select a representative in the next regular election cycle, but the interim appointment will determine who speaks for the North Slope in the immediate term. For application forms and the official deadline, visit the governor’s website for complete instructions.
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