Story perspectives

Begich Suspends Campaign, Endorses Kreiss-Tomkins in Alaska

8/30/2026

Summary

Begich Suspends Campaign

Senator Tom Begich suspended his Alaska gubernatorial campaign and endorsed Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins.
Begich and running mate Julia Hnilicka earned 34,149 votes, 20.80%, in the Aug. 18 primary.
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins led the Democratic field with 36,961 votes, 22.52%, in that primary.
Alaska law permits fifth-place finisher Treg Taylor (11,924 votes, 7.26%) to replace a withdrawn candidate.
The Alaska Public Offices Commission recommended denying Taylor certification for failing to file a required financial disclosure.

Summary

Bishop Leverages Ballot

Ranked-choice voting allows candidates as low as sixth place to qualify for the November ballot.
Former Senator Click Bishop, a Democrat in GOP clothing, sits sixth and holds key leverage.
Democratic strategists say Bishop’s moderate voters would more readily rank a Democrat.
Business backers hope Bishop could join a bipartisan ticket with Kreiss-Tomkins.
APOC staff can only recommend disqualification, leaving certification to the lieutenant governor.

History

Historical Context

Maine voters approved a ranked-choice voting referendum on Nov 8 2016 with 52 % support; the system debuted in the June 12 2018 primaries and survived a legislative delay via a June 2018 people’s veto. Alaska adopted a similar instant-runoff system in 2020, and a 2024 repeal effort lost by 737 votes, keeping the RCV framework that now shapes its primary contests.

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Begich Suspends Campaign

Senator Tom Begich suspended his Alaska gubernatorial campaign and endorsed Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins.
Begich and running mate Julia Hnilicka earned 34,149 votes, 20.80%, in the Aug. 18 primary.
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins led the Democratic field with 36,961 votes, 22.52%, in that primary.
Alaska law permits fifth-place finisher Treg Taylor (11,924 votes, 7.26%) to replace a withdrawn candidate.
The Alaska Public Offices Commission recommended denying Taylor certification for failing to file a required financial disclosure.

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