Alaska Elects Jonathan Kreiss‑Tomkins as Governor

Overview

• The Associated Press projected Jonathan S. Kreiss‑Tomkins the winner on Friday, Nov. 13, making the 37‑year‑old the youngest governor in Alaska history and the first Democrat to hold the office since 1998.
• Kreiss‑Tomkins surpassed 50% of first‑preference votes with about 88% of ballots counted, so Alaska’s ranked‑choice system did not require redistribution to decide the race.
• Democratic primary coordination—Tom Begich withdrew after the August top‑four primary to back the higher vote‑getter—consolidated Democratic support while a three‑way Republican field, including Bernadette Wilson who had President Trump’s backing, split conservative voters.
• He campaigned on cutting the cost of living, fully funding public schools, protecting Medicaid, fixing the Southeast ferry system, pausing new data‑center projects until rules are set, and taxing oil and gas firms more fully.
• The result raises Democratic governorships to 30 in 2026 and could shift Alaska policy and budget fights; coverage also notes a close U.S. Senate contest in the state with Democrat Mary Peltola leading incumbent Dan Sullivan in near‑final counts.