Source : https://www.newsweek.com/alaska-fairbanks-mayor-election-democrat-republican-10844700
Alaska's City of Fairbanks Mayor David Pruhs, a Republican, conceded to Mindy O'Neall, a Democrat, in the mayoral election on Tuesday night.
According to unofficial election night results made available by the city of Fairbanks, O’Neall received 1,808 votes (54 percent) and Pruhs received 1,528 votes (45.7 percent).
Newsweek has contacted Pruhs and O'Neall for comment via emails sent outside regular business hours.
The ballot in mayoral elections in Fairbanks does not list party affiliations next to candidates’ names, but Republicans have held the role in Fairbanks for nearly a decade.
Pruhs, a conservative backed by local Republicans, was elected mayor in 2022. O’Neall, the presiding officer of the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly, was endorsed by the Alaska Democratic Party.
Democrats flipping the seat comes as the party hopes to compete in statewide contests for the Senate and House in 2026. The state has only elected one Democratic senator since 1981 and only one Democratic House member since 1973. President Donald Trump easily won the state by double digits in 2016, 2020 and 2024.
Democratic candidate Mindy O'Neall (left) defeated Republican incumbent David Pruhs (right) in the Fairbanks mayoral election.
Pruhs conceded the race to O’Neall on Tuesday night as he trailed by more than 250 votes.
“The race is over. Mindy O’Neall won. A few votes yet to be counted, but I'm down by 250 votes. The voters have spoken,” he told Alaska’s News Source.
Pruhs blamed low voter turnout and O’Neall having the support of the state Democratic Party for his defeat.
“It was a perfect storm for her to take the seat, and she did that. So congratulations to Mindy O’Neall,” he said.
O’Neall “had a very engaged Democratic Party statewide and local parties to help her,” he said. “When you have an entire state Democratic Party focused on one race, it's hard to rebuff that.”
About 15 to 20 percent of registered voters have typically taken part in city elections in recent years, but an incumbent mayor hasn’t been unseated in almost a decade, according to KUAC TV.
O’Neall thanked supporters in a video posted on Facebook late on Tuesday night.
She said her victory proves Fairbanks “still believes in listening, planning and bringing people together to solve problems.”
Pruhs told Alaska’s News Source: "This has been a humbling, most rewarding experience, being mayor of city of Fairbanks for three years. There is no better job in the elected world than being the mayor of city Fairbanks. And I wish Mindy the best.”
O’Neall said in the video posted on Facebook: “My campaign was about building a Fairbanks where everyone is respected, where housing is affordable, where public safety is rooted in trust, and where our community is vibrant and resilient.
“We've proven that Fairbanks still believes in listening, planning and bringing people together to solve problems. Our campaign was built on collaboration and compassion, and that's exactly how I'll lead. Tomorrow, the work begins again. Let's keep showing up for one another, planning boldly and building the city we know Fairbanks can be.”
The results of the election will be certified and the new mayor will be sworn in later in October.
Update 10/8/25, 6 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to add additional information.
Update 10/8/25, 9:55 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to add additional information.
Correction 10/8/25, 7:00 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to clarify that Republicans had held the mayoralty in Fairbanks for nearly a decade instead of over a decade.
Republican Ousted By Democrat in Shock Election Defeat
Alaska's City of Fairbanks Mayor David Pruhs, a Republican, conceded to Mindy O'Neall, a Democrat, in the mayoral election on Tuesday night.
According to unofficial election night results made available by the city of Fairbanks, O’Neall received 1,808 votes (54 percent) and Pruhs received 1,528 votes (45.7 percent).
Newsweek has contacted Pruhs and O'Neall for comment via emails sent outside regular business hours.
Why It Matters
The ballot in mayoral elections in Fairbanks does not list party affiliations next to candidates’ names, but Republicans have held the role in Fairbanks for nearly a decade.
Pruhs, a conservative backed by local Republicans, was elected mayor in 2022. O’Neall, the presiding officer of the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly, was endorsed by the Alaska Democratic Party.
Democrats flipping the seat comes as the party hopes to compete in statewide contests for the Senate and House in 2026. The state has only elected one Democratic senator since 1981 and only one Democratic House member since 1973. President Donald Trump easily won the state by double digits in 2016, 2020 and 2024.
Democratic candidate Mindy O'Neall (left) defeated Republican incumbent David Pruhs (right) in the Fairbanks mayoral election.
What To Know
Pruhs conceded the race to O’Neall on Tuesday night as he trailed by more than 250 votes.
“The race is over. Mindy O’Neall won. A few votes yet to be counted, but I'm down by 250 votes. The voters have spoken,” he told Alaska’s News Source.
Pruhs blamed low voter turnout and O’Neall having the support of the state Democratic Party for his defeat.
“It was a perfect storm for her to take the seat, and she did that. So congratulations to Mindy O’Neall,” he said.
O’Neall “had a very engaged Democratic Party statewide and local parties to help her,” he said. “When you have an entire state Democratic Party focused on one race, it's hard to rebuff that.”
About 15 to 20 percent of registered voters have typically taken part in city elections in recent years, but an incumbent mayor hasn’t been unseated in almost a decade, according to KUAC TV.
O’Neall thanked supporters in a video posted on Facebook late on Tuesday night.
She said her victory proves Fairbanks “still believes in listening, planning and bringing people together to solve problems.”
What People Are Saying
Pruhs told Alaska’s News Source: "This has been a humbling, most rewarding experience, being mayor of city of Fairbanks for three years. There is no better job in the elected world than being the mayor of city Fairbanks. And I wish Mindy the best.”
O’Neall said in the video posted on Facebook: “My campaign was about building a Fairbanks where everyone is respected, where housing is affordable, where public safety is rooted in trust, and where our community is vibrant and resilient.
“We've proven that Fairbanks still believes in listening, planning and bringing people together to solve problems. Our campaign was built on collaboration and compassion, and that's exactly how I'll lead. Tomorrow, the work begins again. Let's keep showing up for one another, planning boldly and building the city we know Fairbanks can be.”
What’s Next
The results of the election will be certified and the new mayor will be sworn in later in October.
Update 10/8/25, 6 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to add additional information.
Update 10/8/25, 9:55 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to add additional information.
Correction 10/8/25, 7:00 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to clarify that Republicans had held the mayoralty in Fairbanks for nearly a decade instead of over a decade.
