Alaska governor race 2026: Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins vs. Bernadette Wilson, Dave Bronson and Treg Taylor

The basics

Alaskans vote Nov. 3 to replace Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who is term limited. The general election uses ranked choice voting among the four candidates who advanced from the Aug. 18 top four primary. The field changed after the primary: Democrat Tom Begich, who finished second, withdrew and endorsed Kreiss-Tomkins, which moved fifth place finisher Taylor onto the ballot. State officials first declined to certify Taylor over his financial disclosure, then reversed that decision on Sept. 4.

The candidates

Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D) is a former state representative from Sitka. His running mate, Zac Johnson, is not affiliated with a party, and he has pledged equal numbers of Democrats, Republicans and independents in his cabinet. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski endorsed him in late October, calling him "a common-sense guy," and he has outraised his opponents, the Anchorage Daily News reported.

Bernadette Wilson (R) is a former talk radio host. President Donald Trump endorsed her on Oct. 13. She has criticized bipartisan coalitions in the Legislature as ineffective.

Dave Bronson (R) is a former mayor of Anchorage, and Treg Taylor (R) is a former state attorney general. Taylor has softened his message to appeal to independents and Democrats.

Where the race stands

Polls show Kreiss-Tomkins ahead after ranked choice tabulation. A New York Times/Siena poll (Sept. 24–Oct. 1, 504 likely voters, ±5.1) had him leading 52% to 48% in the final round, and Alaska Survey Research (Oct. 23–25, 1,068 likely voters, ±3.5) had him ahead 53% to 47%. An AARP poll in September found him with 40% of first choices and 18% of voters undecided, Alaska Public Media reported. STTPN's average of the two recent independent polls is Kreiss-Tomkins 52.5%, Republican 47.5% in the final round. Analysts have compared the race to 2022, when Democrat Mary Peltola won Alaska's U.S. House seat after many voters who ranked one Republican first declined to rank the other. The AARP poll projected a similar pattern, with many Republicans not ranking Wilson. Democrats have not held the governorship since Tony Knowles left office in 2002.

Cook and Sabato's Crystal Ball rate the race Lean Democratic, and Inside Elections rates it Tilt Democratic, all as a pickup from Republicans.

The issues

The Permanent Fund dividend

Wilson is the only candidate calling for a return to paying the full dividend under the state's statutory formula. Dunleavy made a similar promise in 2018 but could not deliver it. The other candidates say the full formula is unaffordable for the foreseeable future.

Taxes

The three Republicans oppose new tax proposals from Kreiss-Tomkins, who argues the state needs a long term fiscal plan. Murkowski cited Alaska's "fiscal future" in endorsing him.

Data centers

Bronson and Taylor generally support data centers as an economic opportunity if they generate their own electricity and do not raise energy costs. Kreiss-Tomkins wants a moratorium until the state writes regulations, and Wilson also opposes them, citing environmental effects and arguing Kreiss-Tomkins cannot be trusted on the issue, the Alaska Beacon reported.

Controversies

Republicans have split over ranked choice strategy. Taylor and Bronson have urged Republican voters to rank all three Republicans. Wilson has called on the other two to drop out and asked her supporters not to rank them. Bronson, who refused, said there are "tens of thousands of Alaskans" who voted for other candidates and later criticized Wilson and party leaders.

Kreiss-Tomkins has received large contributions from donors connected to the artificial intelligence industry even as he calls for a data center moratorium and AI regulation, which Wilson has highlighted. A national group backing him put $650,000 into the race, the Anchorage Press reported.