By — Becky Bohrer, Associated Press Becky Bohrer, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/jonathan-kreiss-tomkins-becomes-first-democrat-since-1998-elected-governor-in-alaska Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins becomes first Democrat since 1998 elected governor in Alaska Politics Nov 14, 2026 11:38 AM EST JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska voters have elected a Democrat for governor for the first time since 1998, part of a national midterm elections wave that gave the party sweeping wins in state governments across the country. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Former state lawmaker Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins defeated three Republicans, including one endorsed by President Donald Trump. His victory means Democrats will control the governor's office in 30 states, including several they flipped after years of Republican control in places such as Iowa, Georgia, Ohio and Texas. Kreiss-Tomkins, often referred to as JKT, completed a political comeback three years after leaving the…
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins becomes first Democrat since 1998 elected governor in Alaska
In short
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins won the contest against Dave Bronson, Treg Taylor, and Trump-endorsed candidate Bernadette Wilson. The 37-year-old campaigned heavily on addressing issues from outgoing Gov. Mike Dunleavy's administration, including revitalizing the state ferry system that serves isolated southeast communities. His policy proposals include full school funding, taxing oil and gas producers, and placing a temporary hold on data center construction. To govern effectively, he has pledged to appoint a bipartisan Cabinet featuring members from both major parties and independents.
Key points
- Democrats now control 30 governors' offices nationwide following this historic cross-part…: Democrats now control 30 governors' offices nationwide following this historic cross-party victory in Alaska.
- The governor-elect has committed to forming a mixed Cabinet composed of Democrats, Republ…: The governor-elect has committed to forming a mixed Cabinet composed of Democrats, Republicans, and independents.
- Restoring drastic route cuts to the vital southeast state ferry system remains a top prio…: Restoring drastic route cuts to the vital southeast state ferry system remains a top priority for the incoming administration.