Posted on 08/29/2026 7:49:53 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
Two Democrats and two Republicans have taken the top spots in Alaska’s crowded open primary for governor, according to The Associated Press. But the ballot this fall will reflect a different reality in a state that leans red, yet offers what Democrats believe is a rare opportunity this year.
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, a Democratic former state legislator from Sitka, Alaska, finished first in the 17-person primary, a nonpartisan election in which the top four finishers advance to November’s ranked-choice vote.
Close behind Mr. Kreiss-Tomkins was Tom Begich, a Democratic former state lawmaker from Anchorage and singer-songwriter with a rich family legacy in state politics.
And the final two candidates projected by The A.P. to advance, based on the number of absentee ballots counted in recent days, are Bernadette Wilson and Dave Bronson.
Mr. Kreiss-Tomkins, who led the field with 22.5 percent of the more than 164,000 votes cast, has pitched himself as a pragmatic change agent willing to work with Republicans and independents to solve Alaska’s fiscal problems and population drop. He chose a nonpartisan member of the Anchorage Assembly as his running mate. At 37, he would be the youngest governor in the state's history.
Mr. Begich, who ran on a promise to lower costs, improve public schools and reverse the exodus of young people and families from Alaska, finished with almost 21 percent of the unofficial vote tally, but announced Friday night that he would exit the race.
Though ranked-choice voting gives people the opportunity to support multiple candidates, Mr. Begich said he made his decision after seeing data that suggested a single Democrat stood a better chance at winning.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
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Very smart. They’re doing the same in the senate race.
pragmatic change agent willing to work with Republicans and independents to solve Alaska’s fiscal problems.
Read: You have to pass it to see what’s in it...
And the Democrats in Alaska are sunning their own Dan Sullivan to confuse voters who think they're voting for Dan Sullivan (R) in Alaska's RCV election.
That's a novel move.
“...made his decision after seeing data that suggested a single Democrat stood a better chance at winning.” But, but, I thought RCV gives all a better chance?! /S. The R’s need to do the same and remove the RCV factor.
Abigail Spanberger said the same thing in Virginia.
Though ranked-choice voting gives people the opportunity to support multiple candidates, Mr. Begich said he made his decision after seeing data that suggested a single Democrat stood a better chance at winning.
...which is exactly why it set up that way in the first place.
“Novel” isn’t a term the media would use. “Dirty trick” if the Republicans were trying it. “Unreported” since the rats are doing it
Sounds like a shoo-in for the Rats with 3 Republicans splitting the votes.
Yep.
Turning Alaska into a blue state whether voters want it or not.
Not sure how the feel about Trump in Alaska. But if they like him, one trip from him could end both campaigns for the Dems.
Alaska is the model case for what the Dems stand for. Power for the sake of power. There is no issue or policy they run on. Everything is about tricks and masking who they really are. They just want to be in charge so they can be in charge and have you obey.
Little known fact about supposedly “red” Alaska:
Republicans currently have an 11-9 margin in the state Senate and 21-14-5 (5 “independents” who all vote with the Dems) in the state House. Probably a closer margin than most would expect, especially in the Senate.
Even more little-known fact about Alaska:
Democrats (and RINOs) are in COMPLETE CONTROL of the state legislature. Conservatives are explicity excluded from the “majority”.
The state Senate is actually: 14-6. The ‘14’ is Democrats+RINOs. That is not an estimate based on trying to divine the ideology of each member.
It is an OFFICIAL “coalition” of Rats & RINOs against conservatives.
The state House is actually 21-19 in favor of the left. The surprising part is that it’s as close as it is, and true Republicans are not more greatly outnumbered.
This of course is how things stand currently. In the vast majority of states, things will very likely look worse after November and Alaska is pretty much certain to be included in that vast majority.
What are the Rats running on? Shutting down oil? Shutting down fishing? That’s what the DSBSers are running on.
A more local and accessible source should have been used for this thread.
I don’t have time to post this article directly, but it notes the 5th place finisher who would be elevated to 4th place has some problems and the Alasaka Ethic commission is recomeding against allowing him to run. That would elevate the 6th place finsher. Both of them are Republicans and that is the flaw. They should not have allowed so many Republicans to run.
This is essentailly a race between these two.
Bernadette Wilson, waste management company founder and great-niece of former governor Wally Hickel. Running mate: Mike Shower, former minority leader of the Alaska Senate (2025) from district O (2018–2025)
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, former state representative from the 35th district (2013–2023) Running mate: Zac Johnson, Anchorage assemblymember for the 6th district (Independent)
Yes...we want one single candidate...to prevent vote splitting.
I forgot to note, most importantly, REPEAL of RANK CHOICE VOTING will be on the November ballot.
It should pass easily, as Alaska’s set up was doomed to failure.
“...REPEAL of RANK CHOICE VOTING...”
Not that I disagree with the use of “RANK” to describe politicians of all stripes, but the word you were looking for is ‘rankED”.
A LOT of promises there.
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