Alaska State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2022
Alaska Senate District J
A district of about 26,000 people, 33% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes D+15.3 relative to the nation for president.
2024 election
Nov 5, 2024- Forrest Dunbar (D) · won70.7%
- Cheronda L. Smith (OTH)29.3%
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 12:13 PM ET
Where it sits among all 20 seats
Every Alaska State Senate seat by partisan lean, from most Democratic to most Republican. Lean is the seat's presidential vote on current lines, relative to the nation.
Democratic
Source: 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET
Every election for this seat
18 races since 1970; the seat changed party 4 times. District numbers are redrawn after each census: each group is one set of lines.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Won by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lines first used in 2022 | |||
| 2024 | Forrest Dunbar (D) | Cheronda L. Smith (I) | 41.4 |
| 2022 | Forrest Dunbar (D) | Andrew E. Satterfield (R) | 17.3 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2020 | Tom Begich (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 2016 | Tom Begich (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 2012 | Hollis S. French (D) | Bob Bell (R) | 0.3 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2010 | Bill Wielechowski (D) | Ron Slepecki (R) | 16.7 |
| 2006 | Bill Wielechowski (D) | Earl Mayo (R) | 22.3 |
| 2002 | Gretchen Guess (D) | Tim Worthen (R) | 0.7 |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 1998 | Dave Donley (R)Flip | Thomas Lamb (I) | 62.0 |
| 1994 | Dave Donley (D) | Larry Baker (R) | 0.3 |
| 1992 | Dave Donley (D) | Larry Baker (R) | 2.2 |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1988 | John B. Coghill (R) | Betty Rollins (D) | 47.7 |
| 1984 | John B. Coghill (R)Flip | H. D. Black (D) | 67.3 |
| 1982 | H. Pappy Moss (D) | David McCracken (R) | 5.9 |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1978 | Ed Dankworth (R)Flip | Michael McHenry (D) | 35.0 |
| 1974 | John Rader (D)Flip | McShea (R) | 18.5 |
| 1972 | Terry Miller (R) | Brown (D) | 48.7 |
| Lines first used in 1962 | |||
| 1970 | Willie Hensley (D) | Borer (R) | 55.0 |
Won by: the winner's lead over the runner-up, in points of the vote. Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Districts that overlap District J
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District J's area in each.
- U.S. House
- AK-AL 100%
Who lives here, compared
Grey bars show the spread of all 20 seats. Small marks are other seats in Alaska. The black marker is District J.
Higher than 68% of seats.
Lower than 89% of seats.
Higher than 74% of seats.
Higher than 95% of seats.
Higher than 89% of seats.
Denser than 89% of seats.
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current linesUpdated Oct 13, 2026, 5:06 AM ET
Seats most like this one
Nearest seats on demographics, density and lean.
District G31% college gradsD+11.7Held DDistrict K
31% college gradsD+5.9Held DDistrict H
44% college gradsD+6.7Not up in 2026District F
36% college gradsR+1.2Not up in 2026
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current lines; 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET