South Anchorage Rep. Birch files to run for Alaska Senate seat held by Meyer

GOP state Rep. Chris Birch filed paperwork this week to run for the Alaska Senate seat currently held by Republican Kevin Meyer, who Birch said is considering a bid for higher office.

Birch, currently in his first two-year term as a lawmaker representing the Anchorage Hillside in House District 26, posted a Facebook photo Monday with his declaration of candidacy, the formal paperwork required by the Alaska Division of Elections.

Meyer, Birch said in a phone interview, "hasn't been shy about his interest in pursuing lieutenant governor or some other opportunities."

"I just wanted to make sure we had a placeholder in there," he said.

The election is still more than a year away, but a bevy of candidates has filed in the past few weeks — including Alaska Gov. Bill Walker, who announced his re-election bid Monday.

[Alaska Gov. Walker files to run for re-election as an independent]

GOP Rep. Charisse Millett, who represents the other House seat in Meyer's District M — the lower Hillside and Abbott Loop areas of House District 25 — said she's also interested in running for the state Senate if there's an opening.

"I'm waiting to see what Sen. Meyer does," she said Tuesday. "If he vacates the seat or runs for higher office, I'm definitely interested in running for the Senate."

Meyer didn't respond to a request for comment Tuesday.