Alaska Advances Candidates for Governor in Ranked-Choice Primary

Seventeen pairs of candidates for governor and lieutenant governor participated in a primary election on August 18, 2026, in Alaska. Former state Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins and running mate Zac Johnson finished first, while former Democratic state Senator Tom Begich and Julia Hnilicks secured second place. They will advance to the general election in November, along with two additional winning pairs. The primary featured 34 candidates, including notable political figures. Tom Begich, a frontrunner, comes from a politically active family in Alaska. Other candidates include business owner Bernadette Wilson and Republican Michael Loren Gilbert, who aims to enhance the state's energy sector. The state employs ranked-choice voting, allowing voters to rank candidates by preference, with votes redistributed as lower-performing candidates are eliminated. This election follows the departure of term-limited Republican Governor Michael Dunleavy, presenting an opportunity for Democrats to gain control of the governor's office.