Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins wins Alaska governorship as Democrat

Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins won the Alaska gubernatorial election, marking the first Democratic victory in the state since 1998. The 37-year-old candidate will become the youngest governor in Alaska history following the declaration of results on Friday, November 7, 2026. The election outcome followed a 10-day counting period and utilized a ranked-choice voting system alongside open primaries.

Election results and candidates

The final vote counts showed Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins receiving approximately 51% of the vote, according to reports from CNN and NBC News. Other reports, including data from the Associated Press, placed his share of the vote at 50.8%. The Republican candidate, Bernadette Wilson, received 28.1% of the vote.

Other candidates included former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson, who received 13.6% of the vote, and former Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor, who received 7.2% of the vote. The election concludes the tenure of Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy, who will leave office after serving two terms.

The election results occurred after Alaska voters rejected a proposal on November 3, 2026, to abolish the current open primary and ranked-choice voting system. This voting system was originally approved by Alaska voters in 2020 and was first utilized in the state in 2022.

National political shifts

The victory in Alaska contributes to a broader trend for the Democratic Party during the midterm elections. Democrats secured a majority in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Following this election, Democrats will hold 30 of 50 U.S. governorships, which is the highest number held by the party since 1993. This also marks the first time Democrats have held a majority of U.S. governorships since 2010.

The political landscape in Alaska was influenced by support from Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, who supported Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins one week before the election.

Policy and future administration

During the campaign, Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins focused on several key policy areas. He campaigned on increasing public school funding, lowering energy prices, expanding Medicaid, and protecting Alaska fisheries. Additionally, Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins called for a moratorium on all new data centers until state regulations are established.

Regarding his approach to governance, Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins stated he is willing to cooperate with Republicans, Democrats, and Independents.

Glossary

• open primaries — A voting system utilized in Alaska. It is a type of primary election system.
• Attorney General — An official who may be represented by an immigration judge or a member of the Board of Immigration Appeals in removal proceedings.
• midterm elections — Political elections that occur during a period of political shifts. They can contribute to broader trends for political parties.
• U.S. House of Representatives — A legislative body where members represent specific districts. It is one of the two bodies where a political party can secure a majority.
• U.S. Senate — A legislative body where a political party can secure a majority.