I am a third-generation Alaskan and a proud mom of four. I grew up in an Alaskan family that battled addiction, mental illness, and abuse, but I broke that cycle. I served Alaska under Republican and Independent governors and led a non-partisan grassroots movement to restore education funding and improve our schools.
My family first came up to Alaska to serve in World War II. I’m a third-generation Alaskan and like too many children in Alaska, I grew up in a home filled with trauma and abuse. My family struggled with addiction, mental illness, and abuse, but I was determined to break the cycle. My community and my school teachers lifted me up and gave me the tools and confidence I needed to persevere.
My dad was a mechanic. He owned a Texaco gas station and then worked on the North Slope as a Teamster changing tires on big rigs. My brothers and I all learned the value of hard work where we used our hands, working jobs that left us exhausted at the end of the day.
I started working when I was eight years old, getting 25 cents a bag to take the trash out for the jewelry store down the street, and I never stopped. I worked my tail off throughout a variety of jobs, from waitress to copy shop manager, to achieve my dream of becoming the first in my family to graduate from college.
My husband and I returned to Alaska to start our family and went on to raise our four wonderful children in Alaska. I’ve been a homeschool parent and when I needed to go back to work to keep food on the table for my family, I did, and my kids thrived in Alaskan public schools. I’ve also owned two small businesses and managed a large hotel.
I’ve been registered as an Independent since 2006, when I got so fed up with the partisanship standing in the way of solutions I changed my voter registration. I was tired of partisan bickering then and I still am today. I just want to get things done for Alaskans.
I have experience making real change for real people. I worked to expand early childhood education for Alaskan kids at the public-private partnership Best Beginnings, and I went on to serve Alaskans under the leadership of two governors to improve the state’s public schools.
In 2014, I watched our state cut teachers, counselors, and shop classes. Our children were suffering because our leaders were playing political football with their education. So, I led a small group of parents to resist the new budget cuts. From that small beginning, Great Alaska Schools grew from 40 members into a grassroots force of over 4,000 across the state, forcing lawmakers to take our demands seriously, restore funding, and act to improve public education. We were able to save over $200 million in budget cuts to Alaskan public schools.
We are facing a crisis and our leaders are not listening. It’s time for a new Representative who listens to and works for the people of Alaska, not Washington special interests.
I feel called to serve in this role as our Congressperson. After 5 years fighting the same fights, I saw how lawmakers opened their doors to special interests and big corporate donors, but not every day working families. The people our leaders are supposed to be serving are being shut out.
I realized that if we want lasting change, we must change the people behind those closed doors to better reflect our values. So, in 2018 I ran for Congress to fight for much-needed solutions for Alaskans. And as a first-time candidate, we won 47% of the vote, coming closer than anyone in the last 30 years to defeating Don Young. Now I am back to finish the job.
Alaska and our nation are at a crossroads right now. I believe I am the new kind of leader we need for Alaska’s future. In Congress, I will work for all Alaskans and build a strong economy that supports small business, keeps our kids here, and puts Alaskans first in line for good-paying jobs.
My husband Pat and I are the proud parents of four amazing kids raised and educated in Alaska. Like any parent, I want to make sure that Alaska is a place with the jobs, educational opportunities, and vibrant communities that will allow my children — and every child — to live, work and raise families right here in Alaska.
I don’t believe national solutions are always right for Alaska. I’m not running to bring Washington values to Alaska; I’m running to bring Alaska’s needs and Alaska’s values to Washington. This is a grassroots campaign about the people of Alaska, which is why I’m not accepting any corporate PAC money.
WHERE I STAND
My proudest accomplishment is raising my four kids. Each of them is a graduate of Anchorage's public schools, and they are each driven by a desire for public service and giving back to their communities. Camden, Bridget, Sean, and Cooper are a continued blessing to Pat and me.
Camden is the youngest Galvin. He’s currently a sophomore at the Savannah College of Art and Design where he majors in game design. In 6th grade, Camden founded a lunch program, called Souper Steller, cooking soup for his sister’s high school. Through this program, Camden raised money for the Abused Woman Aid in Crisis shelter (AWAIC). His efforts were recognized with a Spirit of Youth Award. His community leadership skills were recognized when he was elected Co-Chair of his school’s governing body made up of representatives from parents, staff, and students. Camden also taught a class at his school titled “Mythology as a Roleplaying Game” in which he taught students folktales and myths through a game he developed himself.
“My mom has always been a fighter for her community. She led me to carry this tradition of advocacy when she took me to visit the AWAIC shelter when I was in the 6th grade. I was moved by the stories from the children at the shelter, many of them my age. I wanted to help, but I didn’t know what to do. After brainstorming with my Mom, my friend and I started Souper Steller, and raised over $500 to buy toys and supplies for those children. It was through my mom’s kind words and encouragement that pushed me to help my community.”
Bridget recently graduated with a degree in political science from New York University. Bridget is a proud product of the Anchorage School District and spent much of her high school career advocating for Alaska’s public schools on a statewide level. She founded the movement Students With A Voice (SWAV), so Alaskan students could have the opportunity and encouragement to stand up for their right to a quality public education. Her advocacy took many forms, from organizing rallies, days of awareness, and student testimony before legislative committees, to personally meeting with legislators in our state capital. She’s worked at United Way of Anchorage, and at an after school program. Bridget took a year off from college in 2018 to work with Alyse on her first run and is currently working on the campaign as Alyse’s Communications Director.
“My mom is my biggest cheerleader. When I was fourteen and asked her about the possibility of taking a year to homeschool and focus on my music and theater, she reorganized her life to make it a reality. When I was fifteen and told her 'I think I like girls and boys,' she filled my life with love and support. When I was sixteen and came home complaining about teachers in my school being cut, she didn’t say 'oh that’s too bad,' she said, 'well what are we going to do about it?' Her ability to see through any problem, any crisis, any frustration and focus on the solution is what I admire most in her. And that's why I'm working every day to make sure she's Alaska's first Congresswoman.”
Sean recently graduated from NYU Law School. His commitment to public service has been with him from a young age; he and his band The Asteroids won an Alaska Spirit of Youth Award for their work providing live music for non-profit events in and around Anchorage. In college, Sean volunteered at a non-profit environmental law firm in Portland, and worked as campaign manager for promising State House candidate Pete LaFrance in Palmer. Sean continued to work for the public interest in law school, serving as a legal intern for the New York State Department of Financial Services' Financial Fraud and Consumer Protection Division and for the New York Attorney General's Labor Bureau. Sean is now an attorney at Goodwin Procter LLP in New York.
"Mom never let us forget how fortunate we were for what we had. No matter how tough things seemed, we always had food on the table, a roof over our heads, and loving parents. We saw how hard she and my dad worked to guarantee us those things, but she always made sure we understood that not everyone is so lucky. By example, she taught us compassion and fearlessness, and instilled in us a duty to give back to our community."
Cooper is an associate at McKinsey and Company. He studied his PhD at Stanford Medical School studying Biophysics. His mother inspired him to always pick science research projects based on whether they address a major societal need. Cooper has researched the root causes of Alzheimer’s disease, how to make materials for a giant battery to permit greater renewable energy adoption into the US power-grid, and diabetes prevention policy to reduce suffering and wasteful spending on healthcare. During graduate school, Cooper started a student organization to connect professional scientists with low-income high school students to work on open projects in science/technology. In every case, his mother was a source of moral guidance and enthusiasm.
"I am fortunate to have role models like my parents. Because of them I know the joy of engaging with my community. A guiding principle from my mom that she has repeated over and over throughout my adolescence and adulthood, 'It doesn’t matter how smart you are, what matters is if you are making other people’s lives better.'
One of my earliest memories is of my mom rehearsing for her part as Maria in the Sound of Music. She dedicated herself to the part and absolutely was a star. Ever since then, even when my family was busiest, up against financial pressures, my parents continued to be active participants in their community helping to make it better. My mom is a community builder, contributing to the local folk arts movements and advocating for students across the state to the state legislature."
