Benjamin Nageak

Political career

North Slope Borough

Alaska House of Representatives

• In 2012 Nageak filed to run for the 40th District seat in the Alaska House of Representatives. Incumbent Democrat Reggie Joule announced shortly before the filing deadline that he would not be a candidate for reelection; he would later to decide to run for mayor of the Northwest Arctic Borough and was elected to that position. Nageak won the four-way August 28, 2012 Democratic Primary with 714 votes, and won the November 6, 2012 General election with 3,444 votes against write-in candidates. As had Joule, Nageak chose to caucus with the Republican majority.
• In 2014, Nageak beat Dean Westlake of Kotzebue 1104 votes to 973 votes, in the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election.
• 2016 In the August 15th Democratic primary rematch, Nageak was apparently defeated 819 votes to 798, 50.65%-49.35% by Westlake. A recount certified on September 6 had him losing, but by only four votes, and he was expected to challenge the results. A further review of votes extended Westlake's lead to 8 votes, 825 votes to 817. An Anchorage judge, Andrew Guidi, heard Nageak's protest, took 12 votes from Weslake, and two from Nageak, giving Nageak a two-vote victory, which was appealed to the state supreme court. The Alaska Supreme Court reversed Judge Guidi's decision, handing the victory to Westlake.