Dear Alaska Republicans,
As we move into the late days of what has turned into a summer of beautiful weather, I want to take a moment to thank each of you for the energy, passion, and dedication you bring to our Party. From grassroots volunteers to local leaders, it’s your commitment that keeps the Alaska Republican Party strong and focused on our mission: protecting liberty and promoting our conservative values.
One of the highlights of the season was our ARP Summer Picnic. It had been years since the last picnic and this year’s was a hugely successful return. It was wonderful to gather with hundreds of fellow Republicans from across the state, share good food and laughter, and celebrate our shared purpose. These moments of fellowship remind us that we are more than a political party, we are a team, united in our love for Alaska and our belief in the promise of the Republican vision. Thank you to the Governor who co-hosted the event with me, to Senator Sullivan and Congressman Begich for sponsoring the very popular face painting booth and bouncy house, and to all of the many sponsors and volunteers that made this year’s picnic so memorable.
As we look ahead to the coming months, let’s keep building momentum. Whether it’s registering new voters, supporting conservative candidates, or fighting for responsible policies that put Alaska first, every one of us has a critical role to play. Thank you for standing with us. I’m proud and honored to work alongside you. In service, Carmela J. Warfield
Chairman, Alaska Republican Party |
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Summer is flying by, and so is 2025. With less than 500 days until the 2026 election, we're laying the groundwork to elect Republicans up and down the ballot. From building out a strong grassroots network to preparing a deep bench of candidates, we're focused on growth, investment, and protecting Alaska's future. |
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Each month, we’re highlighting a different Alaskan who plays a key role in building and strengthening our Republican Party. To kick things off, we’re proud to feature our National Committeewoman, Cynthia Henry! |
Cynthia Henry is a strong Republican voice in Alaska, serving as our state’s National Committeewoman since 2015 and as Co-Chair of the Western Region for the Republican National Committee. Her leadership and dedication to advancing conservative values are vital to keeping Alaska - and the West - solidly Republican.
For decades, Cynthia has been on the front lines of Republican politics. Every election cycle, she volunteers her time and energy to elect Republican candidates for local office, the State Legislature, Governor, U.S. Congress, and U.S. Senate.
She is a strong advocate for the oil and gas industry and actively works with groups fighting against harmful taxes and overregulation that would weaken Alaska’s economy and Republican priorities.
A Fairbanks resident for more than 40 years, Cynthia and her husband Ken are also small business owners since 1979. Her service to Alaska includes roles on the Fairbanks School Board, Borough Assembly, and eight years on the University of Alaska Board of Regents. She has also served on the boards of the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce, Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation, Alaska Post-Secondary Education Commission, and other civic service roles.
Cynthia is a proud member of the Republican Women of Fairbanks and is deeply committed to strengthening the Alaska Republican Party. With her decades of experience, she is helping shape the future of the GOP in Alaska and across the nation.
Cynthia and Ken have two grown sons and two grandsons, all living in Anchorage.
Please join us in thanking Cynthia for her tireless work and unwavering support of the Party! |
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$4,100 to $7,400 Increase in Wages | 14,000 Jobs Protected |
WAGES, TAKE-HOME PAY, AND DISPOSABLE INCOME
CEA finds that the OBBB will raise wages in Alaska by an inflation-adjusted range of about $4100 to $7400 over the next four years.
A typical family with two children in Alaska can expect to see a higher take-home pay of about $7700 to $11200 with OBBB compared to if it were not passed.
Around 4% of the labor force is employed in occupations that would likely benefit from the no taxes on tips provision of the OBBB.
Around 100 thousand seniors in Alaska could benefit from the no taxes on social security provision of the OBBB.
Around 28% of all employees in Alaska regularly work overtime and could benefit from the no tax on overtime provision of the OBBB. An even larger 63% of workers in Alaska are in occupations that are likely eligible for overtime and could also benefit.
JOBS, BUSINESSES, AND HOUSING
CEA finds that the OBBB will protect about 14 thousand full-time equivalent jobs in Alaska over the next four years relative to if the TCJA had been allowed to expire.
There are several provisions in the OBBB that will boost the manufacturing industry. In Alaska, about 3% of firms, 3% of establishments, and 4% of employment are in the manufacturing sector.
The OBBB extends the 199A passthrough deduction for small businesses. There are about 14 thousand firms in Alaska that could be eligible for the deduction, or about 44% of all firms.
The OBBB enhances Opportunity Zones incentives and makes the policy permanent. In Alaska, there are 25 Opportunity Zones. CEA finds that Opportunity Zones created an estimated 3 thousand jobs following the passage of the TCJA through 2021 and led to the construction of about 700 housing units in Alaska through the third quarter of 2024. |
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President Donald J. Trump has officially endorsed Alaska’s hard-working Senator, Dan Sullivan, for reelection!
“Senator Dan Sullivan is doing a fantastic job representing the Great People of Alaska! Prior to becoming a very distinguished and Highly Respected Senator, Dan served as State Attorney General and Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.
Dan is a GREAT man, has ALWAYS delivered for Alaska (which I won three times by BIG margins in 2016, 2020, and 2024!), and will continue doing so in the U.S. Senate. He is fighting hard to Grow our Economy, Lower Taxes, Cut Regulations, Help Secure our VERY Secure (Record Setting!) Border, Champion our Incredible Military/Vets, Advance American Energy DOMINANCE by helping to keep the price of Gasoline, Oil, and all forms of Energy VERY LOW, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.
Dan Sullivan has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election – HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!” President Trump knows we need fighters like Dan Sullivan in the Senate who put America and Alaska FIRST. |
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President Donald J. Trump has officially endorsed Alaska’s hard-working Congressman Nick Begich for reelection!
"Congressman Nick Begich is doing an incredible job representing the Great People of Alaska, a State I love, and WON BIG THREE TIMES, in 2016, 2020, and 2024!
A very successful Businessman, Nick knows the America First Policies required to Create Great Jobs, Cut Taxes, Strengthen our Economy, and Eliminate Government Waste. He will never stop fighting to Secure our Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Halt the Flow of Illegal Drugs, Strengthen our Military/Vets, Champion American Energy DOMINANCE, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.
Nick Begich has my Complete and Total Endorsement — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!"
Alaska’s Congressman Nick Begich continues to be a conservative champion. He’s working closely with President Trump to unlock Alaska’s energy potential and make sure Alaskans always come first. |
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Mary Peltola is playing political games once again, and it looks like she and her DC pals are seat shopping for a run for Governor, Senate, or Congress.
Behind the scenes, Chuck Schumer and Hakeen Jeffries are lobbying her hard, and so is the Democratic Governors Association (DGA).
No matter where they plant her, it could spell trouble for Alaska’s energy-focused economy and the values we care about most.
Mary Peltola has shown little initiative in standing up to the far left. If she returns to office, she’ll likely fall in line with the most extreme voices... radical environmental groups and anti-energy activists who want to lock up Alaska’s natural resources and halt development. | |
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Thank You For Making Our Summer Picnic a Huge Success!
After almost ten years, the Alaska Republican Party’s Summer Picnic returned to Kincaid Park, and what a comeback it was!
Over 300 of you joined us for food, fellowship, and a fresh sense of momentum heading into 2026.
We’re deeply grateful to Governor Dunleavy for co-hosting the event, and to Congressman Nick Begich and Senator Dan Sullivan for their generous sponsorships and support. A huge thank-you as well to our table sponsors and the incredible volunteers who manned the grills, served food, decorated, and brought it all to life. The weather was perfect, the company was even better, and we’re already looking forward to the next one! |
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Our Party & our conservative values represented at the Tanana Valley State Fair! We had a fantastic time at the Tanana Valley State Fair!
It was inspiring to see Alaskans of all ages, from 8 to 88, stop by our booth to say hello, register to vote, switch their party affiliation to Republican, and sign up to get involved. And of course, plenty of folks took the opportunity to snap a photo with President Donald J. Trump! A huge thank-you to all the volunteers who helped make our presence at the Fair such a success. With your support, we’re building momentum, and together, we will win. |
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ALASKA GOP FEEDBACK:
RESULTS FROM LAST POLL The question we asked:
In your opinion, what is the most important function of the Alaska Republican Party?
The Top 3 Results:
1. Registering voters
2. Bringing awareness to smaller races
3. Crafting a platform that our leaders can unite under |
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📊 POLL 📊
What's the best way the Alaska Republican Party can grow our base? 🤝 Hosting more local events
🐘 Stronger candidate recruitment 👶 Youth outreach 📱 Expanding our digital and social media presence |
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Show Your Pride for Alaska and the Second Amendment! |
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After kicking off our recipe series, we thought it was only right to follow it with a hit, and folks, Republican volunteer Forrest Wolfe, delivered. At this year’s annual Summer Picnic, Forrest smoked 30 pounds of his signature brisket… and left with nothing but compliments. Forrest’s full step-by-step recipe is below. |
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Forrest Wolfe's Brisket Recipe🥩 1)Trimming & Prep - Start with a full packer brisket
- Trim off
hard excess fat and silver-skin
- Remove hard edges to create a smooth, aerodynamic shape
- Leave
¼ inch of the fat cap on the bottom
This helps the smoke roll smoothly over the surface of the meat 2) Seasoning / Rub - Begin with a 50/50 mixture of:
-
Coarse kosher salt
- Coarse ground pepper
- Apply to the
entire brisket (optional: season the fat cap too)
- Then layer in order:
- Lawry’s Seasoned Salt
- Granulated garlic
-
Celery seed
3) Optional Dry Brine - If time permits:
- Place the seasoned brisket in the
fridge, unwrapped, for 4 hours (preferably overnight)
- This helps:
-
The seasoning work into the meat
- Dry the surface, aiding bark and smoke ring formation
Note: If you're short on time, it's totally fine to season and go straight to the smoker, it'll still turn out fantastic 4) Smoking - Set smoker to 225°F
- Recommended wood types:
- Hickory
- Pecan
-
Mesquite
-
Mixing woods is fine, too
- Place brisket fat cap down on the smoker
- Do not open the smoker for at least 4 hours
“If you’re lookin’, you’re not cookin’!” 5) 4 Hours In - Check that:
- Bark is forming
- No pools of rendered fat are building up
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Optional spritz (every hour after 4 hours):
- Mix of
apple juice, apple cider vinegar, water, and Worcestershire sauce
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Helps bark set and reintroduces moisture
6) Wrapping & Finishing - When bark is a dark brown and internal temp is 165–175°F:
- Wrap in pink butcher paper or heavy-duty foil
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Increase smoker temp to 260–275°F
-
Or transfer to oven to finish
- Start checking for doneness when internal temp hits ~200°F
- Look for the
probe to slide in like room-temperature butter
- Sweet spot usually: 203–205°F
- Sometimes takes until 208–210°F for fat to fully render
7) Initial Rest - Remove from smoker
- Unwrap and rest at room temp for 20–30 minutes
- Let cooking stop, but don't let it cool too much
8) Holding & Long Rest -
Ideal holding temp: 140–155°F internal
- Allows rendered fat to soak back into the meat
- Once internal is ~170°F:
-
Double wrap in foil or butcher paper
- Put in:Oven at lowest setting (ideally 165°F
- OR Wrap in old
blankets/towels and place in a dry cooler
- Add more blankets/towels to eliminate airspace
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Close and do not open
- Rest time:
-
Minimum: 2 hours
-
Better: 4 hours
- Ideal: 8+ hours
9) Serve
- Remove from cooler and unwrap
- Let internal temp come to
140–155°F if not already there
- Slice:
- Flat: slice across the grain
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Point: separate, rotate
90°, and slice with the grain
Serve with:
- White bread
- Pickles
- Pickled peppers
-
Pickled onions
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