Alaska Democrats back independent Bill Hill in statewide House race

The Alaska Democratic Party is encouraging its members to back independent Bill Hill, a Dena’ina Athabascan fisherman, in the state’s sole House seat.

Party Chair Eric Croft wrote Saturday in an internal party memo obtained by The Washington Post that the independent candidate has the most realistic chance of unseating incumbent Rep. Nick Begich (R). A formal motion to endorse Hill will depend on how the independent responds to questions on abortion access, union rights and funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Croft wrote. The party will meet Tuesday to discuss its endorsements of statewide candidates.