Four candidates advanced to Alaska’s ranked-choice general election for governor on Tuesday after a nonpartisan primary, with Democratic former state Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins leading the field and Democratic former state Sen. Tom Begich close behind. The top four vote-getters will compete in November to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
Republican business owner Bernadette Wilson placed third, while a fourth candidate remained unconfirmed as of early Wednesday. The general election will use Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system, where voters rank candidates in order of preference.
The primary field included 17 governor-lieutenant governor candidate pairs, with Kreiss-Tomkins and running mate Zac Johnson finishing first. Begich and Julia Hnilicks secured second place. Wilson, running with Michael Shower, was among the leading Republicans. Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, a Republican incumbent, withdrew from the race in June.
Cook Political Report rates the gubernatorial race as “likely Republican”, citing Dunleavy’s low approval ratings and the complexities of ranked-choice voting. The report notes that while Democrats last won the governorship in 1998, a competitive general election remains possible.
Key Candidates and Context
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D) led the primary with nearly 22% of the vote, positioning him as the frontrunner in the general election. Kreiss-Tomkins, a former state representative, has emphasized progressive policies, including climate action and economic diversification. His campaign has highlighted his experience in state government and advocacy for Alaska Native communities.
Tom Begich (D), whose family has deep ties to Alaska politics, finished second with about 20% of the vote. Begich’s father, Nick Begich Sr., served in state and federal legislatures before his 1972 disappearance, and his brother, Mark Begich, was a U.S. senator. Begich’s nephew, Rep. Nick Begich III (R), is running for reelection to the U.S. House.
Bernadette Wilson (R), a business owner from the Kenai Peninsula, placed third with roughly 10% of the vote. Wilson’s campaign focuses on economic growth, energy development, and fiscal responsibility. Her running mate, Michael Shower, is a former state legislator.
A fourth candidate, whose identity was not confirmed by early Wednesday, will complete the general election field. The ranked-choice system allows voters to rank candidates, with ballots redistributed until a candidate secures a majority.
House Race: Begich III Faces Independent Challenge
In Alaska’s sole U.S. House race, Rep. Nick Begich III (R) advanced to the general election with 47.9% of the vote, facing independent candidate Bill Hill, who garnered 29.5%. Four candidates secured spots in the November election, including two Republicans, a Democrat, and an independent.
Hill, a lifetime commercial fisherman and member of the Dena’ina Athabascan people, has raised over $1.3 million primarily from individual donors. His campaign emphasizes economic fairness and Alaska Native rights. Other candidates in the race included Democrats Eric Hafner and Yaquelin Reynoso, Libertarian John Foddrill, and nonpartisan candidates.
Hafner, a federal inmate serving a 20-year sentence for bomb threats and threats against judges and police, remained on the ballot despite dropping out due to financial concerns. His inclusion has drawn attention to the state’s ballot access rules.
Background: Ranked-Choice Voting in Alaska
Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system, adopted in 2022, allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate secures a majority in the first round, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and ballots are redistributed until a winner emerges. This system aims to reduce vote-splitting and encourage consensus-building.
The system has been both praised for increasing voter choice and criticized for its complexity. Cook Political Report noted that ranked-choice voting adds uncertainty to the gubernatorial race, contributing to its “likely Republican” rating despite Democratic candidates leading in early polling.