Alaska elects first Democratic governor in three decades

Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins became the first Democrat elected governor of Alaska in nearly 30 years on November 3. The 37-year-old former state representative defeated three Republican opponents in the general election.

Kreiss-Tomkins, who often goes by JKT, described the win as working against gravity. He credited his victory to a campaign that covered every corner of the state. His team reported that he traveled more than 40,000 miles within the vast state. The trip included hundreds of miles by snow machine and boat to reach rural villages not connected to the main road system.

The campaign raised money from more than 10,000 individual donors. Kreiss-Tomkins said he was proud of the big-tent base of support he received from Alaskans of all political backgrounds. He noted that he ran into outgoing Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy in Anchorage on Saturday. The two spoke in Dunleavy's office at a state building.

I appreciated the conversation. It was gracious. He's been very open and wanting to be helpful, Kreiss-Tomkins said. Dunleavy was barred from seeking a third term due to term limits.

Kreiss-Tomkins defeated Bernadette Wilson, who held the endorsement of President Donald Trump. Trump announced that support during a rally in Alaska last month. The other Republican candidates, former Anchorage mayor Dave Bronson and former state attorney general Treg Taylor, wished the new governor success. Messages seeking comment were left with Wilson's campaign over the weekend.

During the campaign, Kreiss-Tomkins argued that Alaska had become broken and lost optimism over the previous eight years. He emphasized a willingness to compromise and work across party lines. He said he wanted a Cabinet with Republicans, Democrats and independents. His priorities included affordability and full funding of K-12 public schools.

Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski endorsed Kreiss-Tomkins, as did former governors Frank Murkowski, Bill Walker, and Tony Knowles. Knowles was the state's last Democratic governor, leaving office in 2002. Kreiss-Tomkins is currently assembling his team. He will be sworn in on December 7 alongside Lieutenant Governor Zac Johnson, an independent. Legislative leaders plan to organize bipartisan coalitions in the House and Senate. Kreiss-Tomkins hopes to pass an education budget during the legislative session beginning in January.