Suzanne LaFrance

Suzanne LaFrance
LaFrance in 2025
Mayor of Anchorage
Incumbent
Assumed office
July 1, 2024
Preceded byDave Bronson
Member of the Anchorage Assembly for District 6, Seat K
In office
2017–2023
Preceded byBill Evans
Succeeded byZac Johnson
Personal details
Born1968 or 1969 (age 56–57)
Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S.[1]
PartyIndependent
EducationUniversity of Portland (BA)
Purdue University (MA)

Suzanne M. LaFrance (born 1968 or 1969)[2] is an American businesswoman and politician from the state of Alaska. She is the 38th mayor of Anchorage, having unseated incumbent mayor Dave Bronson in the 2024 election. She is an independent.

Early life and education

LaFrance was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, but her family moved to Alaska when she was a young child, eventually settling in Palmer. She attended the University of Portland for her undergraduate degree and Purdue University for her master's degree, and prior to entering politics worked in business as a financial analyst and project manager.

Political career

LaFrance served on the Anchorage Assembly from 2017 to 2023.[3] In 2020, she ran as an independent for District 28 of the Alaska House of Representatives, centered in South Anchorage, against Republican James D. Kaufman. She received the support of the Democratic Party.[4] She ultimately lost the election, receiving 5,416 votes to Kaufman’s 5,851.[5]

Mayor of Anchorage

2024 election

In 2024, LaFrance ran for mayor of Anchorage against Republican Dave Bronson, the incumbent mayor. Running as an independent, she received a co-endorsement from the Anchorage Democratic Party.[6] LaFrance ultimately defeated Bronson, taking 53.54% of the vote to Bronson's 46.46%.[7][8]

Tenure

She was sworn into office on July 1, 2024.[9] In October 2024, she endorsed three candidates running for the Alaska House of Representatives: Republican Chuck Kopp (district 10), Democrat Ted Eischeid (district 22), and independent Ky Holland (district 9).[10]

References

  1. ^ "Suzanne M. LaFrance – House District 28 Representative – Democratic Nominee" (PDF). www.elections.alaska.gov.
  2. ^ "14 questions: Anchorage Assembly candidate Suzanne LaFrance". Anchorage Daily News.
  3. ^ Early, Wesley (May 9, 2023). "Former Anchorage Assembly chair Suzanne LaFrance to run for mayor next year". Alaska Public Media.
  4. ^ George, Kavitha (October 20, 2020). "House District 28 race centers budget crisis". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  5. ^ Downing, Suzanne (November 15, 2020). "LaFrance concedes; James Kaufman will represent House District 28".
  6. ^ Hughes, Zachariah (January 22, 2024). "Anchorage Democrats issue dual endorsement in mayor's race". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  7. ^ Klecka, Joey (May 23, 2024). "Bronson concedes Anchorage mayor's race to LaFrance". www.alaskasnewssource.com.
  8. ^ Buxton, Matt Acuña (May 23, 2024). "Anchorage Mayor Bronson concedes race to LaFrance - The Alaska Current". Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  9. ^ Early, Wesley (July 2, 2024). "Suzanne LaFrance sworn in as first woman elected Anchorage mayor". Alaska Public Media.
  10. ^ Buxton, Matt Acuña (October 11, 2024). "Mayor LaFrance endorses three House candidates: A Republican, a Democrat and an independent - The Alaska Current". Retrieved October 3, 2025.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzanne_LaFrance