Alaska’s Gubernatorial Race Heats Up: Candidates Face Off in Primary

On Tuesday, 17 pairs of gubernatorial and lieutenant governor candidates competed to secure a spot in the November general election, aiming to replace Republican Governor Michael Dunleavy, who is term-limited.

Leading the pack were former state Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins and his running mate, Zac Johnson, who finished first. They were closely followed by former Democratic state Senator Tom Begich and Julia Hnilicks. Both pairs will advance to the general election in November, along with two other successful candidate duos.

The roster of 34 candidates included several well-known political figures. A notable frontrunner was Tom Begich, whose family has a long history in Alaskan politics, dating back to when Alaska achieved statehood. His father, Rep. Nick Begich Sr., served in the state and federal legislatures until his disappearance in a plane incident. Begich’s brother, Mark, was a U.S. senator from Alaska.

In addition to Begich, Republican Bernadette Wilson emerged as a key figure in the primary. Wilson, a business owner, hopes to leverage her family’s deep roots in Alaska. Her running mate is Michael Shower.

Lt. Governor Nancy Dahlstrom, another prominent Republican candidate, withdrew from the race in June. Other Republican candidates include Michael Loren Gilbert, who advocates for expanding Alaska’s energy infrastructure and considering a highway connection to the Lower 48. Gilbert is partnered with Timothy Hickel, linked to another significant Alaskan political family. Timothy is the son of former Governor Wally Hickel.

David Bronson, former mayor of Anchorage, is also considered a strong contender with running mate Josh Church. Former state Senator Click Bishop joined the race with candidate Greta Schuerch.

Alaska employs ranked-choice voting in general elections, where voters list candidates by preference. This system allows for vote redistribution as lower-performing candidates are eliminated. Although Alaska is primarily a Republican state, Governor Dunleavy’s exit provides the Democrats, particularly Begich, a chance to claim the governorship.

Previously, Begich III triumphed over Rep. Mary Peltola, who had taken over a seat after Rep. Don Young’s passing. Young had represented Alaska for nearly 50 years.