Begich exits race, endorses Kreiss-Tomkins in Alaska governor contest

Democratic former state lawmaker Tom Begich is withdrawing from Alaska’s open governor’s race and endorsing Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, arguing that having a single Democrat on the November ballot improves the chances of winning. Begich, who placed second in the primary with 20.8% to Kreiss-Tomkins’s 22.5%, says consolidating Democratic support and avoiding fundraising competition will boost victory odds. He notes shared priorities with Kreiss-Tomkins—improving education, lowering the cost of living, and raising state revenue to fund services. With Begich out, Kreiss-Tomkins is positioned to consolidate Democratic support on the ballot; the top four finishers advance, and Republicans Bernadette Wilson and Dave Bronson are set to appear, while Treg Taylor’s candidacy may be invalidated over a missing financial disclosure. Monday is the final day to drop out.