Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, a former state representative from Sitka, won the race for Alaska governor, the Associated Press projected, NPR reported early Saturday, Nov. 14.[1] He will be the first Democrat elected governor of Alaska since 1998.[2] At 37, he will also be the youngest governor in the state’s history.[1]
Related: Peltola Leads Sullivan by 637 Votes as Alaska Awaits Next Count and Nov. 18 Tally
A ranked-choice win after a week of counting
The AP call came after more than a week of counting, including ballots that arrived by mail and from remote parts of the state.[1] Alaska uses ranked-choice voting, and a candidate needs a majority of the votes to win.[1]
Kreiss-Tomkins faced three Republicans.[1] They were business owner Bernadette Wilson, who was backed by President Donald Trump; former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson; and former Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor.[1]
Voters also rejected a ballot question that would have repealed the ranked-choice system, according to a separate AP call reported by NPR.[1] The system stays in place.
Replacing a term-limited Republican
Kreiss-Tomkins will succeed Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a term-limited Republican who has held the office since 2018.[1] The state’s last Democratic governor, Tony Knowles, left office in 2002.[1] Kreiss-Tomkins is set to take office at noon on Dec. 7.[1]
His win means Democrats will hold 30 governor’s offices nationwide, up from 24.[1] The party flipped governorships in states including Iowa, Georgia, Ohio and Texas this year.[2] In Kansas, Democrat Cindy Holscher won the governor’s race this week, as The Boston Report reported Friday.
A bipartisan pitch and cross-party endorsements
Kreiss-Tomkins, known by his initials JKT, ran on what he called a “high-energy, bipartisan, problem-solving approach.”[1] He has said he plans a Cabinet of Democrats, Republicans and independents.[2]
Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski endorsed him a week before the election.[2] Three former governors also endorsed him: Democrat Tony Knowles, independent Bill Walker and Republican Frank Murkowski, the senator’s father.[2]
“I strongly believe people just want things to work, and want people to work together,” Kreiss-Tomkins said in an interview on Election Day, NPR reported.[1] In a statement declaring victory, he said voters wanted “a government that works across party lines to move Alaska forward,” CBS News reported.[2] He said his campaign had more than 10,000 donors.[2]
What he promised, and what he inherits
His campaign focused on affordability and full funding for public schools.[2] He called for all oil and gas producers to pay corporate income tax.[2] He also proposed a moratorium on new data centers until state lawmakers pass rules for their development.[2] He criticized the state ferry system, a key link for Southeast Alaska towns without road connections, after route cuts.[2]
Rising costs and flat state funding have forced school closures and larger classes.[1] Food, fuel and housing costs have risen sharply.[1] A looming shortage of accessible natural gas near population centers threatens to push prices higher.[1] Alaska has also lost residents to out-migration for more than a decade.[1]
Every race call is on The Boston Report’s National Election Tracker, and more coverage is on the politics and government hub. The Boston Report does not call races; results are unofficial until certified.
Sources
- NPR (Alaska Public Media): Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins wins race for Alaska governor, replaces a Republican
- CBS News: Alaska elects Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, the first Democrat governor since 1998
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