Murkowski’s Cross-Party Endorsement Cements Kreiss-Tomkins’ Lead in Alaska Governor’s Race

Key points

• Sen. Lisa Murkowski endorsed Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, praising his commitment to bipartisanship and ability to work across party lines.
• Kreiss-Tomkins leads polls by a significant margin, with RealClearPolling averaging a 53.8% to 46.3% lead over the top Republican, Bernadette Wilson.
• Three former governors, including Democrat Tony Knowles, Republican Frank Murkowski, and Independent Bill Walker, co-authored an op-ed supporting Kreiss-Tomkins.
• Republican candidates Bernadette Wilson, Dave Bronson, and Treg Taylor remain divided, with Trump endorsing only Wilson and criticizing the others.
• Kreiss-Tomkins has pledged to fill his cabinet with Republicans and independents, while promising to fully fund public education and protect the Permanent Fund.

Background

Alaska’s governor’s race is being decided under a ranked-choice voting system, where the top four candidates from an open primary advance to a general election. The seat is open because term-limited Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy cannot run again. Kreiss-Tomkins, a former state representative from a conservative district, has built a campaign around bipartisan cooperation, contrasting it with the perceived gridlock of the Dunleavy administration. The race is part of a broader trend of cross-party endorsements in 2026, where some Republicans have backed Democrats in competitive races, as seen in South Carolina and South Dakota.

How outlets are covering it

Alaska Public Media and Alaska’s News Source emphasize Murkowski’s endorsement as a surprise move that underscores her reputation for crossing party lines, noting her previous support for Democrat Mary Peltola. The Anchorage Daily News highlights the bipartisan support from three former governors, framing Kreiss-Tomkins as a unifying figure capable of addressing practical issues like education and infrastructure. MultiState focuses on the polling data and the fragmented Republican field, noting that Trump’s endorsement of only one Republican candidate may split the GOP vote in the ranked-choice election. Alaska’s News Source also reports on the reactions from Republican candidates, with Taylor expressing disappointment and Bronson stating his loyalty is to Alaskans, not political figures.

Why it matters

The endorsement by a prominent Republican senator and former governors signals a shift in Alaska’s political landscape, where bipartisan cooperation is being prioritized over partisan loyalty. Kreiss-Tomkins’ lead in the polls and the fragmented Republican field suggest that the race may be decided by how well Republican voters rank their candidates in the ranked-choice election. The outcome could have significant implications for Alaska’s fiscal policy, infrastructure, and education, as well as its relationship with the federal government.

What to watch

The general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026. The outcome will depend on how Republican voters rank the three GOP candidates in the ranked-choice system. Kreiss-Tomkins is expected to continue campaigning on his bipartisan platform, while the Republican candidates may attempt to unify their support or focus on specific policy issues. The race will also be influenced by Ballot Measure 2, which would repeal ranked-choice voting and the open primary, a measure that failed by a narrow margin in 2024.