Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) has endorsed Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, the Democratic candidate for Alaska governor, one week before the state’s ranked-choice general election on Nov. 3. Kreiss-Tomkins, who goes by JKT, is running to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy and faces three Republican opponents: Bernadette Wilson, Dave Bronson, and Treg Taylor.
Kreiss-Tomkins’ campaign confirmed Murkowski’s endorsement in a statement released on Oct. 27, highlighting her rationale that Alaska needs a governor who prioritizes cooperation over partisan divisions. Murkowski emphasized issues such as the state’s fiscal future, energy costs, and economic growth as requiring bipartisan solutions. She urged voters of all political affiliations to consider Kreiss-Tomkins and his running mate, Zac Johnson, who is running as a nonpartisan candidate for lieutenant governor.
In response, Kreiss-Tomkins stated he was honored by the support and pledged to work with Alaska’s congressional delegation, the Legislature, industry leaders, and local communities. He described his campaign as focused on problem-solving and collaboration, citing his past service in the state House from 2013 to 2023, where he served in a bipartisan coalition.
Murkowski’s endorsement follows her longstanding criticism of partisan gridlock in Alaska. She has previously supported Democratic candidates, including Mary Peltola’s 2024 congressional reelection campaign, and has been vocal in opposing former President Donald Trump’s political influence in the state. Trump, who endorsed Bernadette Wilson in the governor’s race, criticized Murkowski in an Oct. 24 Truth Social post, calling her “Republicans’ Worst Senator, by far,” and alleging that Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system is a “TOTAL DEMOCRAT SCAM.”
Kreiss-Tomkins’ campaign has highlighted endorsements from three former governors—Tony Knowles (Democrat), Bill Walker (Independent), and Frank Murkowski (Republican, Sen. Murkowski’s father)—as well as multiple Republican former state lawmakers and labor unions. The former governors also publicly backed Kreiss-Tomkins in an Anchorage Daily News op-ed published on Oct. 27.
Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system, which allows voters to rank candidates by preference, has been a subject of debate. Proponents argue it reduces polarization by encouraging consensus-building, while critics, including Trump, claim it confuses voters and favors Democrats. The race is rated as leaning Democratic by the NBC News Decision Desk, despite Alaska’s history of voting for Republican presidential candidates in recent elections.
The gubernatorial contest is one of several high-stakes races in Alaska, where voters will also decide on local and federal offices. The outcome could influence the state’s political dynamics, particularly in its relationship with the U.S. Congress and the Biden administration, given Murkowski’s role as a key Republican voice in Washington.