This woman is running to represent Alaska in the House of Representatives, even though she's never been there
- Carol Hafner has never been to Alaska, but is running to be the state's next Democratic House representative.
- She is competing in the primary, which she would have to win before being put the to Alaska electorate at large.
- Hafner also has no plans to campaign in the state in person.
- Her mailing address is in New Jersey, and her campaign contact address is a South Dakota spot popular among RVers.
- The 64-year-old is running because she wants to unseat the incumbent Republican representative, who has been in his seat since 1973.
- "Don't lock me out just because I'm not a homeboy," she told the Associated Press.
Carol Hafner is running to be Alaska's next Democratic representative in the House of Representatives - despite neither having been to the state nor planning to campaign there in person.
What she's doing is legal under US law: The US Constitution states that people running to represent a state in the House must be at least 25 years old, be a US citizen for at least seven years, and reside in said state upon election.
This means she would have to move there if she wins the election, but until then she can be wherever she wants. Alaska only has one seat in the House, which means Hafner is pushing to represent the entire state.
Hafner has claimed she feels "a kinship" for Alaska despite not having been, and that locals "ought to be thankful" for her efforts.
She told the Associated Press: "Don't lock me out just because I'm not a homeboy. ...
"You ought to be thankful that I care enough and I'm interested enough and passionate enough to want to make things better."
Hafner's opponents in the state's Democratic primary election on August 21 are Democrat Dimitri Shein and Independent Alyse Galvin.
The winner will then try to unseat incumbent Republican Don Young, who has won every House election since 1973.
A self-described extensive traveler - with no plans to visit
Hafner listed on her candidacy documents a home and mailing address in New Jersey, the AP reported. Public property and voter registration registration records also have her listed in New Jersey.
Her campaign contact address, as listed on the Alaskan government's primary candidate list, is one in South Dakota popular among RVers and people with transient lifestyles. All the other primary candidates have listed Alaska addresses on their contact pages.
Hafner, though, has told the AP that she travels extensively, and considers South Dakota her base. She has been in New Jersey lately for a family illness, and is "on my way out."
According to Hafner's campaign website, she is a former flight attendant, retired higher education administrator, and biological industry professional.
Despite setting up the website and a Twitter account for her House campaign, Hafner still has no plans to campaign in person, the AP said.
A progressive platform of universal healthcare, legalizing cannabis, and abolishing ICE
Hafner is campaigning on a progress platform that includes universal healthcare, legalizing cannabis, abolishing ICE, and providing free higher education, according to her campaign website.
She was inspired to run for office after learning that Alaska's current representative, Don Young, had been in office for 45 years.
Young previously called climate change a "scam" and environmental activist Al Gore the "biggest money-making machine in the world." Hafner, on the other hand, has pledged to stop Arctic drilling, build electric vehicle charging stations on state money, and push the US to rejoin the Paris accord.
She has also been outspoken in her opposition to Donald Trump, and retweeted footage of anti-Trump protests in London last week.
"Stay out of it"
Alaskans have questioned Hafner's intentions, which appears to have angered her.
Jay Parmley, the executive director of Alaska's Democratic Party, told the AP: "You may have a right to run, doesn't mean you're going to be well-received, or it's going to be an easy campaign for you. If you're not from somewhere, that's a pretty tall order."
Parmley and Julie Olsen, an Anchorage Democratic Party leader, attempted to challenge Hafner's candidacy to the state's election division, but were told that Hafner had properly filed to run.
Locals, including Kimberly Stone of Wasilla and Suzanne Hudson of Juneau, also separately told the AP that Hafner's candidacy was "audacious," and that she should "should stay out of it."
Hafner, however, has appeared to take none of it.
"I'm certainly permitted to do what I have done," she said.