Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins became the latest beneficiary of the midterm elections’ “blue tsunami,” winning the Alaska governor’s race and becoming the first Democrat elected to the state’s top office since 1998.
Kreiss-Tomkins, a Yale dropout who later served as a state lawmaker, defeated three Republican candidates, including Bernadette Wilson, who had been endorsed by President Donald Trump. Wilson previously worked as a local television and radio host before entering politics.
His victory gives Democrats control of governors’ offices in 30 states, including several places they flipped after years of Republican rule, such as Iowa, Georgia, Ohio and Texas.
At 37, Kreiss-Tomkins will also become the youngest governor in Alaska’s history.
He will succeed Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy, who has held the office since 2018.
Alaska’s most recent Democratic governor was Tony Knowles, who remained in office until 2002.
Kreiss-Tomkins received endorsements from three former governors—a Democrat, a Republican and an independent—as well as Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski.
The state’s US Senate race remained uncalled, with former Congresswoman Mary Peltola leading on 49.8 percent of the vote, with 95 percent counted. Incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan had 46.1 percent.
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (pictured) became the latest beneficiary of the midterm elections’ “blue tsunami,” winning the Alaska governor’s race and becoming the first Democrat elected governor there since 1998
Kreiss-Tomkins defeated three Republican candidates, including Bernadette Wilson
Kreiss-Tomkins, often known as JKT, completed his political comeback three years after leaving the Alaska House.
He traveled across Alaska to build a broad coalition, making affordability a central issue. He also called for full funding of public schools and urged all oil and gas producers to pay corporate income tax.
Kreiss-Tomkins additionally proposed a moratorium on new data centers until state lawmakers establish rules governing their development.
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Among the other issues he highlighted was Alaska’s ferry system, which he said had been left in disrepair after routes serving many communities were sharply reduced.
He argued that Alaska had become “broken” during Dunleavy’s eight years as governor and needed a new direction.
The ferry system is a vital link for communities in southeast Alaska that lack road connections, while some also have only limited air service.
Kreiss-Tomkins, 37, stressed that he was prepared to work across party lines and said his Cabinet would include Republicans, Democrats and independents.
“If they’re competent, if they’re service-minded, if they’re entrepreneurial, if they’re problem-solvers, you’re on the team. Game on,” he said at a candidate forum last month. “Let’s go, and let’s get Alaska back on track.”
The result came as Alaska’s closely watched Senate contest remained undecided.
An Alaska judge ruled Wednesday that Mary Peltola’s campaign request for a list of absentee voters whose ballots had been rejected was “not reasonable,” particularly as election officials faced a tight deadline while continuing to count ballots.
Ballots were still being counted in the ranked-choice election, in which Peltola and two-term Republican Senator Dan Sullivan were the leading contenders. Alaska’s contest was the only US Senate race that remained too close to call.
Ballots were still being counted in the ranked-choice election, with Mary Peltola (left) and two-term Republican Senator Dan Sullivan (right) the leading contenders
Alaska accepts ballots from overseas voters for up to 15 days after a general election, making November 18 the final day for them to arrive. That is also the Division of Elections’ target date for conducting ranked-choice tabulations if no candidate secures more than 50 percent of first-choice votes.
Peltola’s attorneys sued state election officials last Friday, seeking a list of voters whose absentee ballots had been rejected and the reasons for those decisions. They said the goal was to ensure that every eligible voter had the opportunity to have their ballot counted.
State attorneys countered that releasing the information could violate voter privacy. They also argued that compiling the list from a voter database would amount to an “electronic service or product” that, under state law, could not take precedence over the agency’s primary responsibilities.
Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews wrote that, “in theory,” voter database records could be redacted and prepared for release. However, he said the Division of Elections was not required to provide the records sought by the campaign because they “cannot reasonably be produced at this juncture, nor redacted of confidential information.”
