Republican Matt Heilala Campaigns for Alaska Governor

Republican candidate Matt Heilala, a foot and ankle surgeon and former member of the Alaska State Medical Board, is campaigning for governor of Alaska. In interviews leading up to the August 18 nonpartisan primary, Heilala positioned himself as a private-sector outsider capable of breaking through bureaucratic gridlock.

His economic platform focuses on solving state budget deficits and energy shortages by increasing oil production on the North Slope and advancing the Alaska LNG project. Heilala also advocates for greater government transparency and the deregulation of healthcare to support smaller providers, while proposing a gradual rollback of Medicaid expansion.

On social issues, Heilala supports restricting gender-affirming care for minors and limiting late-term abortions. To compensate for a lack of political name recognition, he has self-funded nearly $1.5 million of his campaign, arguing that his business experience is essential for the state's economic future.