Alaska Democratic Party hires new executive director ahead of 2026 elections

Alaska’s branch of the Democratic Party announced Friday that it has hired Jenny-Marie Stryker, currently the political director for the Alaska Center, as its new executive director.

The announcement follows the resignation of former executive director Lindsay Kavanaugh and a decision by the national party to increase its contributions to state-level party organizations, particularly those in Republican-controlled states. The executive director serves as the party’s top paid staff member in the state.

State party chair Eric Croft called her “an excellent addition to our team.”

Stryker, 30, moved to Alaska in 2017 and has been active in politics during her time in the state.

“I thought about it so, so much, and felt like there’s very few things that I could do that would be more impactful to create the Alaska that I want to live in,” she said about her decision to apply for the executive director job.

Stryker said she remembers canvassing for Barack Obama’s first presidential campaign long before she was old enough to vote. She became a registered Democrat in California, her birth state, as soon as she could.

“I think what’s really inspiring to me is the values that we all hold, which is an economy that works for everyone and uplifts everyone. You know, we have such a polarized society, such a giant wealth gap, and giant wealth spread. And I think the Democrats were very clearly, to me, are the party that has an inspiring vision for how to solve that,” she said.

After Democratic incumbent Rep. Mary Peltola lost her U.S. House seat to Republican Nick Begich in last year’s U.S. House election, the Democratic Party has named Alaska’s House race as one of the ones it plans to focus on in 2026.

Democrats will also seek to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, who has been a reliable supporter of President Donald Trump.

“2026 is going to be a massively consequential year for Alaska,” she said.

Stryker said it’s important to remember that there also are municipal elections this fall and in the spring.

“We don’t get the benefit of an off year in Alaska,” she said.

Stryker will start her work with the state party in June and said she would have more insight into her future plans at this point.

“From what I’ve been learning, we have to be laser-focused on increasing Democratic voter registration, increasing Democratic turnout, investing in our regional party infrastructure,” she said.

“We’re a massive state, and the regional party infrastructure is so, so important for us to succeed. It’s not the Anchorage party, it’s the Alaska party, and we think about it statewide, and our plans are statewide, and I think that’s really important for folks to know,” Stryker said.