Tom Begich Drops Alaska Governor Race, Backs Democrat Rival on August 29

Tom Begich, the former Alaska state Senate minority leader, suspended his gubernatorial campaign Friday evening and endorsed fellow Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. Begich finished second in the August 18 primary with 20.8% of the vote, behind Kreiss-Tomkins who garnered 22.52%. Begich cited funding concerns, saying the race would require millions more than available. The move consolidates Democratic support ahead of November’s general election, where the Cook Political Report rates the race likely Republican.

Why Begich stepped aside

Begich said keeping his campaign alive through November would require millions in additional funding his team did not have. In a video posted to X, he explained that after reviewing data with Kreiss-Tomkins and analyzing internal polling, both camps concluded that two Democrats competing for the same donors and resources would weaken their chances. Consolidating behind one ticket offered the strongest path to winning in November.

What happens in the general election

Alaska uses ranked-choice voting. Kreiss-Tomkins will face three Republicans on the November ballot: Bernadette Wilson (10.02% in the primary), former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson (8.13%), and former Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor. The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan forecaster, rates the race likely Republican, meaning the GOP nominee is favored to replace Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

Kreiss-Tomkins’ platform and backing

The former state representative has pledged to expand Medicaid coverage, reduce energy costs, fund public education, and expand affordable housing. He also supports a moratorium on new data centers until the legislature passes comprehensive regulation. Former Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles has endorsed Kreiss-Tomkins. Begich’s running mate, Julia Hnilicka, said Kreiss-Tomkins shares their commitment to school funding, energy affordability, and housing access.

Why Begich entered the race

Begich left the state Senate in 2023 and told Alaska’s News Source that he decided to run after lawmakers failed to override Gov. Dunleavy’s veto of education funding. In April 2025, lawmakers fell seven votes short (33-27) overriding a veto of House Bill 69. They scaled back the bill to House Bill 57, which Dunleavy also vetoed. In May, they succeeded in overriding that veto 46-14. Begich also cited a breakdown in communication between the governor’s office and the Legislature, and said the state has gone without a long-term fiscal plan for more than two decades.

Final Thoughts

Begich’s withdrawal leaves Kreiss-Tomkins as the sole Democrat against three Republicans in a ranked-choice race the Cook Political Report favors Republican. The consolidation move reflects Democratic acknowledgment that splitting resources would likely hand the governorship to the GOP.

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