Matt Heilala

This candidate participated in a 2026 battleground election. Click here to read more about that election.

Matt Heilala (Republican Party) ran for election for Governor of Alaska. He lost in the primary on August 18, 2026.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Ask yourself, is Alaska better off than it was four, eight, twelve years ago? Our economy is now at the bottom nationally. Forget business as usual - It’s time for a change! Matt Heilala is the only candidate for Governor with a decades long history of building businesses and creating jobs and opportunities for Alaskans. Matt Heilala is the bold, new leadership Alaska needs now! It's time for change!

Energy is the foundation of economic growth.

As Alaska's next Governor, Matt will bring abundant energy to the task of rebuilding Alaska's economy.

Matt will bring the best and brightest to create a Culture of YES for Alaska. YES to new energy projects, new development, new industries, new investments, new jobs for Alaskans.As Governor, Matt will focus on getting government out of the way of projects that are long studied and simply waiting for obstacles to be removed.

When wildcatters, who discovered new resource opportunities in Alaska, say they can get permits faster in California than Alaska - changes have to be made.

Matt will instruct all Commissioners to reach out to private sector Alaska to see where roadblocks are and how they can be fixed.

Alaskans deserve a Governor who will communicate openly and often about the state of the state and the status of advancing a 'people's-agenda'

The economy has to be energized, and the State Budget balanced, before we can address issues of spending - right now - Alaska can't afford a ham sandwichDr. Matt Heilala is a born-and-raised Alaskan. Matt met his wife, Stacey, in junior high, and they started dating at Soldotna High School. He began commercial fishing at the age of nine in Cook Inlet and by fourteen, he was in Bristol Bay. By eighteen, he had become a skipper. He earned his medical degree in Podiatric medicine and surgery and started his practice, as well as other ventures, employing hundreds of Alaskans in Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

- Government doesn't create jobs, the private sector does.

- Permitting reform must take place

- Prioritize and approve projects

- Transparency & Accountability

- Healthcare

- Criminal and Juvenile Justice

- All energy projects