Fairbanks releases final results for 2026 municipal election
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTUU/KTVF) - Absentee and question ballots have been added to the results of the 2026 municipal election for the Fairbanks community.
Community members, including two candidates and other elected officials, gathered Tuesday at the Juanita Helms Administration Center as borough employees and election workers ran the two outstanding ballot categories through voting machines, after they had been reviewed by the Canvass Board.
This year, the Fairbanks North Star Borough had three assembly seats, three school board seats, two spots on the Interior Gas Utility Board and three propositions, while the cities of Fairbanks and North Pole each contested two seats on their respective city councils and North Pole saw a proposition of its own.
With 843 absentee ballots and 429 question ballots added to the total, none of the results changed from what was reported on election night.
The Fairbanks North Star Borough and the City of North Pole voted to move their elections to coincide with the November state and national races, although the City of Fairbanks did not have a similar measure on its ballot.
Assemblymembers Scott Crass and Nick LaJiness kept their seats, while Alexis Howell won the seat currently held by Liz Reeves, who did not run for reelection.
School board members Tim Doran and Bobby Burgess also retained their seats, with Sean Holland winning the seat held by Meredith Maple, who also did not run for reelection.
In the City of Fairbanks, John Ringstad, running unopposed, will continue in his seat on the city council, while Aaron Lojewski emerged triumphant in a three-way race for Lonny Marney’s seat, with the incumbent not running for reelection.
Aubrey Barnett and Thomas McGhee received the most votes for North Pole City Council, and will therefore fill the two seats under election.
While voting to renew the tax cap, borough residents rejected a proposition that would have required a hand count of all borough election results.
Lojewski, who was present at Tuesday’s event, said a priority of his on the Fairbanks City Council will be to bring up the discussion of moving the city’s elections to be in line with the borough’s.
About his win, Lojewski said, “It feels good, and I’m definitely grateful to all the voters of Fairbanks who came out and cast their ballot for me.”
He encouraged his opponents to continue to get involved with city government, including serving on a committee.
“I’m glad they ran and they brought their message to Fairbanks,” Lojewski said. “Both of them have the capacity to serve at a more detailed level and bring benefit to the public.”
Doran, meanwhile, said he is excited to have won his reelection bid, and is looking forward to concentrating on his next term.
“I thank Sally [Gant] for running with me,” he said. “We had some really good conversations. We had some laughs together. We have some differences of views or opinions on things, but there’s a common interest there and, I think, across the candidates to try and see what is best for the community.”
Winning candidates for the borough and the City of Fairbanks are scheduled to be sworn in later in October before taking office.
See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com
Copyright 2026 KTUU. All rights reserved.