Incumbent David Bronson and Suzanne LaFrance were the top two vote-getters in the nonpartisan general election for mayor of Anchorage, Alaska, on April 2, 2024. The two advanced to a runoff on May 14, 2024, because neither received more than 45% of the vote.
Ten candidates ran in the April 2, 2024, general election. Four led in endorsements and local media attention: Bronson, LaFrance, Bill Popp, and Chris Tuck. As of April 3, 2024, LaFrance had 36.3% of the vote, followed by Bronson with 35.0%, Popp with 17.2%, and Tuck with 7.9%. No other candidate had more than 3% of the vote.
First elected in 2021, Bronson ran on his first-term record. Bronson said he opposed the Anchorage Assembly’s efforts to increase tax and spending rates and worked to reopen the city following the COVID-19 pandemic. Bronson said he had the “relentless commitment, vision, and a whole lot of heart” needed for the office.
LaFrance was a former member of the Anchorage Assembly who served as its chairwoman during the first two years of Bronson’s term. LaFrance said she was running to “bring people together and get our future back on track.” LaFrance said her business experience and time on the assembly gave her the necessary knowledge and skillset to turn Anchorage around.
Popp was a former president and CEO of the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation, having spent 16 years in that role. Popp said he was running because Anchorage had become stagnant, mentioning economic and population growth, the state of public services, and the homeless population as areas of concern. Popp said he had “the connections to bring investment, new ideas, and a positive difference to our City.”
Tuck was a former state legislator who served as majority leader in the Alaska House’s bipartisan coalition after the 2020 elections. Tuck said he was running because Anchorage “is falling into disrepair, and I can no longer sit and let the dysfunction continue…Together we will rebuild Anchorage even better.” Tuck said his Anchorage 2027 plan was a roadmap for addressing the most pressing issues facing Anchorage in a single three-year mayoral term.
Also running in the election were Darin Colbry, Breck Craig, Nick Danger, Dustin Darden, Jenny Di Grappa, and Phil Isley.
Although the election was nonpartisan, Bronson was a registered Republican, LaFrance was a registered nonpartisan, Popp did not declare his partisan affiliation in his candidate filing, and Tuck was a registered Democrat. The Alaska Republican Party endorsed Bronson and the Alaska Democratic Party endorsed both LaFrance and Tuck.
