Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins has won the Alaska gubernatorial election, becoming the state’s first Democratic governor in over two decades.
The Associated Press called the race on Friday, November 13, 2026, confirming that the 37-year-old former state lawmaker defeated three Republican challengers. At 37, Kreiss-Tomkins will be the youngest governor in Alaska’s history and will become the youngest sitting governor in the country next year.
Election Results and the Ranked-Choice Process
Kreiss-Tomkins secured a majority of first-choice votes in the November general election, rendering the state’s ranked-choice runoff process unnecessary. In Alaska, the four top vote-getters from the primary advance to the general election, where ranked-choice voting is used.
If no candidate receives a majority, the lowest-performing candidate is eliminated and ballots are redistributed. However, Kreiss-Tomkins exceeded the 50% threshold on the first ballot. According to results from the Alaska Division of Elections, he held 50.05% of the ballots tallied as of Thursday night.
The Republican field was split among three candidates: Anchorage businesswoman Bernadette Wilson, who received an endorsement from President Donald Trump; former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson; and former state Attorney General Treg Taylor. Trump had criticized fellow Republicans Bronson and Taylor, accusing them of dividing conservative voters. Wilson, a conservative activist and former political operative, finished in second place. Kreiss-Tomkins’ campaign had more than 10,000 donors.
| Candidate | Party | First-Choice Vote Share |
|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins | Democrat | 50.05% |
| Bernadette Wilson | Republican | 28.8% |
| Dave Bronson | Republican | 14% |
| Treg Taylor | Republican | 7.3% |
Following the race call, Bronson issued a statement on his campaign Facebook page: “Congratulations to Governor-elect Kreiss-Tomkins on winning the Alaska governor’s race with a majority of the vote.”
“JKT was on top on election night, on top in the first round. He's gonna be your governor,” Anchorage businesswoman Bernadette Wilson said.
Q-If [Mary Peltola] were to win, and if she's still under investigation, would you certify the election? Gov. Dunleavy- "If we conclude there were things…that are illegal, we will act on that. And that may in fact impact whether somebody is seated in the U. S. Senate" pic.twitter.com/T3npq6L0xk
Bipartisan Support and Policy Priorities
Kreiss-Tomkins, who is often referred to by his initials JKT, garnered support from a diverse coalition of voters and political figures. One week before Election Day, Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski endorsed his campaign, citing his collaborative approach to governance.
“JKT is a young Alaskan with a view and a perspective that I think Alaska needs right now — a freshness of energy, a common-sense guy who has a known ability to be working together,” Murkowski said.
Throughout the campaign, the governor-elect emphasized priorities including increased funding for public schools, expanded Medicaid, and the protection of Alaska’s fisheries. He also campaigned on lowering energy costs. Regarding fiscal policy, Kreiss-Tomkins has suggested that a broad-based tax may be necessary to balance the state budget.
Kreiss-Tomkins also addressed infrastructure and technology, citing a need to repair a state ferry system he described as being in shambles, which serves southeast Alaska communities with limited road or air access. He also called for a moratorium on all new data centers until the state Legislature can pass regulations, stating he would not permit direct or indirect subsidies for electricity costs for such facilities.
Mary Peltola Leads Senate Race Amid Certification Controversies
The gubernatorial election coincided with a contentious U.S. Senate race. Democratic candidate Mary Peltola is leading incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. As of Friday afternoon, Peltola held a 5,800-vote lead. In unofficial results released Thursday night, Peltola led Sullivan 49.08% to 46.8%.
The race involves controversy regarding other Republican candidates, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. and Gerald Heikes, whom President Trump has claimed are Democratic plants meant to cause voter confusion. The Trump administration has also been involved in litigation to prevent the certification of a Peltola victory if won by a narrow margin.
Transition to the Governor’s Office
As he prepares to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Kreiss-Tomkins has emphasized his intent to build a broad administration. Speaking at the Resource Development Council annual conference in Anchorage on Wednesday, he stated, “We want to be an administration for all Alaskans.”
He has expressed a desire for a Cabinet composed of Republicans, Democrats, and independents. Kreiss-Tomkins indicated that the first appointments to his administration would be announced next week.
The state’s election results are scheduled to be certified by November 25, 2026.
Earlier coverage: Alaska Senate Race Too Close to Call as Peltola Holds Slight Lead Over Sullivan
