ANCHORAGE, Alaska (June 26, 2026) Following Governor Mike Dunleavy’s veto of $6.4 million in funding for early educator recruitment and retention, thread is launching a statewide, nonpartisan election engagement campaign to ensure child care remains a top priority throughout Alaska’s 2026 elections.
The veto comes at a time when Alaska families continue to face rising child care costs, long waitlists, and a shortage of early educators. The funding approved by the Legislature would have helped child care programs recruit and retain qualified educators, keep classrooms open, and expand access for families across the state.
thread urges members of the Alaska Legislature to override the veto and restore this critical investment in Alaska’s child care workforce. Investing in early educators strengthens families, supports employers, and helps ensure Alaska’s economy can grow.
“Child care is an issue for all Alaskans,” said Stephanie Berglund, CEO of thread. “Families need affordable, reliable child care so they can work. Early educators deserve wages that reflect the essential role they play in children’s development and our economy. We are deeply disappointed by the governor’s decision to veto this funding and urge legislators to restore it.”
As Alaska enters the 2026 election season, thread will engage thousands of families, early educators, child care programs, employers, and community members in nonpartisan voter education and candidate engagement activities to ensure child care remains a priority for candidates at every level of government.
Throughout the campaign, thread will:
- Engage thousands of Alaskans in nonpartisan voter education and election participation activities.
- Encourage families, early educators, child care providers, employers, and advocates to ask local, state, and federal candidates meaningful questions about child care and early childhood issues.
- Provide accurate, nonpartisan information about voter registration, absentee voting, early voting, Election Day voting, and understanding what appears on the ballot.
- Share the lived experiences of families, early educators, and child care providers with candidates and policymakers.
- Partner with statewide and national organizations to elevate child care and broader children and family issues throughout the election season.
“The decisions elected leaders make directly affect whether families can find and afford child care,” Berglund said. “This election is an opportunity for Alaskans to ask every candidate how they will strengthen our child care system and support the families and early educators who depend on it.”
The 2026 election includes races for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Alaska’s seats in the U.S. House and Senate, all 40 seats in the Alaska House of Representatives, 10 Alaska Senate seats, and numerous local offices across the state. thread encourages all eligible Alaskans to register to vote, make a plan to vote, and learn where candidates stand on the issues that matter most to Alaska families.
Election deadlines, polling locations, and voting information are available through the Alaska Division of Elections. Because election information may change, voters should rely on official election resources for the most current information.
More information about thread’s 2026 election engagement activities will be coming soon on the thread website: www.threadalaska.org
Media Contact:
Candice Vialpando
Marketing & Communications Director, thread
907.265.3108
cvialpando@threadalaska.org
About thread
For 40 years, thread has worked to advance Alaska’s child care system by connecting families to affordable, high-quality child care, supporting early educators and child care programs, and informing policies that help children, families, and communities thrive. thread serves families, child care professionals, child care programs, communities, employers, policymakers, and partners across Alaska.