Alaska Governor Race: Candidates Compete for November General Election

Seventeen candidate pairs for governor and lieutenant governor contended on Tuesday to advance from the primary to the November general election. They aim to succeed Republican Governor Michael Dunleavy, who cannot run due to term limits. Leading candidate pairs included former state Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins with Zac Johnson, and former Democratic state Senator Tom Begich with Julia Hnilicks. Both pairs secured spots in the November contest, along with two other pairs.

The election included 34 candidates in total, with several notable political figures. One of the prominent individuals is Tom Begich, whose family has a long history in Alaskan politics. His father, Representative Nick Begich Sr., served in the state and federal legislatures. His plane went missing in 1972. Tom Begich’s brother, Mark, was a U.S. senator. The family is mostly Democratic, excluding current Representative Nick Begich III, a Republican.

Among prominent Republican contenders is business owner Bernadette Wilson, who partners with Michael Shower. Another significant Republican candidate, Lt. Governor Nancy Dahlstrom, withdrew from the race in June. Republican candidate Michael Loren Gilbert aims to expand the state’s energy resources and strengthen transportation connections with the continental U.S. Gilbert’s running mate, Timothy Hickel, belongs to another noted political family, with former Governor Wally Hickel as his father.

Republican David Bronson, a former Anchorage Mayor, is another key candidate, along with running mate Josh Church. Former state Senator Click Bishop entered with lieutenant governor hopeful Greta Schuerch.

Alaska employs ranked-choice voting in general elections, where voters rank candidates based on preference. This method systematically eliminates lower-performed candidates and redistributes votes accordingly.

Dunleavy’s exit provides a potential opening for Democrats such as Begich to convert the governor’s office. Nick Begich III previously defeated Mary Peltola, who had held the seat following Representative Don Young’s passing, marking a significant opportunity for political change in the state.