2026 Alaska gubernatorial election
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The 2026 Alaska gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the next governor and lieutenant governor of Alaska. The primary election will occur on August 18, 2026 as a nonpartisan blanket primary, in which the four highest-placing candidates will advance to a ranked-choice general election.[1] Incumbent Governor Mike Dunleavy is term-limited and ineligible to seek a third consecutive term.
November 3, 2026
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Candidates
Republican Party
Declared
- Click Bishop, former state senator from district R (2013–2025)[2]
- Running mate: Greta Schuerch, member of the NANA Regional Corporation board of directors (Independent)[3]
- Dave Bronson, former mayor of Anchorage (2021–2024)[4]
- Running mate: Josh Church, financial professional[5]
- Adam Crum, former commissioner of the Alaska Department of Revenue[6]
- Running mate: Robert Craig, former healthcare executive[7]
- Edna DeVries, mayor of Matanuska-Susitna Borough (2021–present)[8]
- Running mate: George Hightower, retired physician[9]
- Matt Heilala, member of the Alaska State Medical Board (2021–present)[10]
- Running mate: Jesse Sumner, former state representative from the 28th district (2023–2025)[9]
- Shelley Hughes, former majority leader of the Alaska Senate (2021–2023) from district M (2017–2025)[11]
- Running mate: Blake Gettys, retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general[12]
- Henry R. "Hank" Kroll, author[13]
- Running mate: Tommy R. Nicholson III (Independent)[14]
- Lesil McGuire, former state senator (2007–2017)[9]
- Running mate: Elizabeth Rexford, legislative staffer[15]
- James W. "JP4" Parkin, lab technician and retired educator[16]
- Running mate: Ramadhani "Ram" Greer (Democratic)[14]
- Treg Taylor, former Alaska Attorney General (2021–2025)[17]
- Running mate: Candice English, oil and gas support business owner[15]
- Bernadette Wilson, waste management company founder[2]
- Running mate: Mike Shower, former minority leader of the Alaska Senate (2025) from district O (2018–2025)[18]
Withdrawn
- Nancy Dahlstrom, Lieutenant Governor of Alaska (2022–present) and candidate for Alaska's at-large congressional district in 2024[2][15]
Did not file
- Bruce Walden, former Matanuska-Susitna Borough planning commissioner[19]
Declined
- Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Senator (2002–present) and daughter of former governor Frank Murkowski[20]
Fundraising
Italics indicate a withdrawn or disqualified candidate
| Campaign finance reports as of February 1, 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Click Bishop (R) | $283,606 | $163,347 | $130,259 |
| Dave Bronson (R) | $217,284 | $87,219 | $130,065 |
| Adam Crum (R) | $347,986 | $168,245 | $179,741 |
| Nancy Dahlstrom (R) | $17,810 | $12,930 | $4,880 |
| Edna DeVries (R) | $10,986 | $5,617 | $9,359 |
| Matt Heilala (R) | $1,364,237 | $354,757 | $1,009,480 |
| Shelley Hughes (R) | $306,510 | $147,798 | $158,712 |
| Henry Kroll (R) | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| James Parkin (R) | $1,799 | $1,668 | $131 |
| Treg Taylor (R) | $880,310 | $155,679 | $724,631 |
| Bruce Walden (R) | $2,192 | $0 | $2,192 |
| Bernadette Wilson (R) | $305,985 | $241,190 | $64,794 |
| Source: Alaska Public Offices Commission[21] | |||
Democratic Party
Declared
- Tom Begich, former Minority Leader of the Alaska Senate (2019–2023) from district J (2017–2023) and uncle of U.S. Representative Nick Begich III[22]
- Running mate: Julia Hnilicka, former Alaska state director for USDA Rural Development and nominee for Alaska's 6th house district in 2020[23]
- Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, former state representative from the 35th district (2013–2023)[24]
- Running mate: Zac Johnson, Anchorage assemblymember for the 6th district (Independent)[25]
Withdrawn
- Matt Claman, state senator from district H (2023–present) (endorsed Kreiss-Tomkins)[26][27]
- Running mate: Sarah Skeel, former chief administrative officer of Providence Alaska Medical Center[7]
Declined
- Mary Peltola, former U.S. Representative from Alaska's at-large congressional district (2022–2025) (running for U.S. Senate)[28]
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of February 1, 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Tom Begich (D) | $347,806 | $132,849 | $214,957 |
| Matt Claman (D) | $229,408 | $12,586 | $226,202 |
| Source: Alaska Public Offices Commission[21] | |||
Independents
Declared
- Meda DeWitt, community organizer and traditional healer[29][9]
- Running mate: Christopher Steere, Dewitt's campaign manager[9]
- Destry J. Payne Sr., welder-fabricator[15]
- Running mate: Cliff Silvers[15]
- Bill Walker, former governor of Alaska (2014–2018) and candidate for governor in 2010 and 2022[7]
- Running mate: Randy Hoffbeck, former commissioner of the Alaska Department of Revenue[7]
Did not file
Primary election
Endorsements
Tom Begich (D)
- Labor unions
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1547 (co-endorsement with Bishop)[32]
- Organizations
- Planned Parenthood Alaska[33]
Click Bishop (R)
- Labor unions
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1547 (co-endorsement with Begich)[32]
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D)
- Governors
- Tony Knowles, former governor of Alaska (1994–2002)[34]
- State legislators
- Forrest Dunbar, state senator from district J (2023–present)[35]
- Jennie Armstrong, former state representative from the 13th district (2023–2025)[35]
- Matt Claman, state senator from district H (2023–present) and withdrawn candidate in this election[27]
- Robyn Frier, state representative from the 40th district (2025–present)[35]
- Zack Fields, state representative from the 20th district (2019–2023) and 17th district (2023–present)[35]
- Rebecca Himschoot, state representative from the 2nd district (2023–present)[35]
- Dan Ortiz, former state representative from the 36th district (2015–2023) and 1st district (2023–2025) (Independent)[35]
- Calvin Schrage, state representative from the 25th district (2021–2023) and the 12th district (2023–Present) (Independent)[35]
- Local officials
- Mike Navarre, former mayor of Kenai Peninsula Borough (1996–1999; 2011–2017) and former state representative from the 5A district and 9th district (1985–1996)[35]
Bernadette Wilson (R)
- U.S. representatives
- Byron Donalds, FL-19 (2021–present)[36]
- Statewide officials
- Craig Campbell, former lieutenant governor of Alaska (2009–2010)[37]
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Tom Begich (D) |
Click Bishop (R) |
Dave Bronson (R) |
Matt Claman (D) |
Nancy Dahlstrom (R) |
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D) |
Bill Walker (I) |
Bernadette Wilson (R) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Change Research (D)[38][A] | July 17–19, 2026 | 604 (LV) | – | 17% | 4% | 6% | – | – | 15% | 7% | 14% | 10%[b] | 27% |
| Alaska Survey Research[39] | June 30 – July 1, 2026 | 1,528 (RV) | ± 2.7% | 20% | 9% | 11% | – | – | 12% | 9% | 15% | 24%[c] | |
| Claman withdraws from the race | |||||||||||||
| Public Policy Polling (D)[40][A] | June 24–25, 2026 | 529 (LV) | ± 4.2% | 16% | 10% | 13% | 3% | – | 13% | 8% | 12% | 25% | |
| Dahlstrom withdraws from the race | |||||||||||||
| Walker enters the race | |||||||||||||
| Alaska Survey Research[41] | May 14–17, 2026 | 1,401 (LV) | ± 3.0% | 21% | 10% | 11% | 7% | 6% | 8% | – | 16% | 22% | |
| Dittman Research[42][B] | April 27–30, 2026 | 451 (LV) | – | 21% | 6% | 7% | 5% | 2% | 5% | – | 6% | 13%[d] | 35% |
| Alaska Survey Research[43] | April 16–19, 2026 | 1,612 (LV) | ± 2.5% | 19% | 9% | 10% | –[e] | –[e] | –[e] | – | 14% | 48%[e] | |
| Alaska Survey Research[44] | March 19–22, 2026 | 1,061 (LV) | ± 3.0% | 19% | –[f] | 10% | 10% | –[f] | –[f] | – | 14% | 47%[f] | |
| Lake Research Partners (D)[45][C] | February 5–11, 2026 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 22% | 6% | 8% | 6% | 5% | 9% | – | 14% | 8%[g] | 23% |
Hypothetical polling
with Mary Peltola
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Tom Begich (D) |
Click Bishop (R) |
Adam Crum (R) |
Nancy Dahlstrom (R) |
Edna DeVries (R) |
Mary Peltola (D) |
Treg Taylor (R) |
Bernadette Wilson (R) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data for Progress (D)[46] | July 21–27, 2025 | 678 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 10% | 2% | 40% | 3% | 11% | 18% |
"Republican Primary Poll"[h]
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Inside Elections[48] | Likely R | June 25, 2026 |
| Race to the WH[49] | Tossup | June 19, 2026 |
| RealClearPolitics[50] | Tossup | June 5, 2026 |
| Fox News[51] | Likely R | July 23, 2026 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[52] | Likely R | September 4, 2025 |
| The Cook Political Report[53] | Likely R | September 11, 2025 |
Polling
Tom Begich vs. Click Bishop vs. Dave Bronson vs. Bernadette Wilson
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Tom Begich (D) |
Click Bishop (R) |
Dave Bronson (R) |
Bernadette Wilson (R) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Survey Research[43] | April 16–19, 2026 | 1,923 (LV) | ± 2.5% | 41% | 19% | 19% | 22% | — |
| 44% | 25% | — | 31% | — | ||||
| 54% | — | — | 46% | — | ||||
| Lake Research Partners (D)[45][C] | February 5–11, 2026 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 38% | 8% | 13% | 16% | 25% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
RCV round |
Tom Begich (D) |
Click Bishop (R) |
Dave Bronson (R) |
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D) |
Bill Walker (I) |
Bernadette Wilson (R) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Survey Research[39] | June 30 – July 1, 2026 | 1,528 (LV) | ± 2.7% | 1 | 22% | 13% | 17% | 16% | 11% | 22% |
| 2 | 25% | 16% | 18% | 18% | Elim | 23% | ||||
| 3 | 29% | Elim | 22% | 21% | 28% | |||||
| 4 | 45% | 24% | Elim | 31% | ||||||
| 5 | 51% | Elim | 49% | |||||||
Hypothetical polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
RCV round |
Tom Begich (D) |
Click Bishop (R) |
Adam Crum (R) |
Nancy Dahlstrom (R) |
Edna DeVries (R) |
Mary Peltola (D) |
Treg Taylor (R) |
Bernadette Wilson (R) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data for Progress (D)[46] | July 21–27, 2025 | 584 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 1 | 8% | 8% | 5% | 13% | 3% | 47% | 3% | 13% |
| 581 (LV) | 2 | 8% | 9% | 5% | 14% | Elim | 48% | 4% | 14% | |||
| 575 (LV) | 3 | 8% | 9% | 5% | 15% | 48% | Elim | 14% | ||||
| 567 (LV) | 4 | 9% | 10% | Elim | 17% | 49% | 15% | |||||
| 562 (LV) | 5 | Elim | 10% | 19% | 54% | 16% | ||||||
| 544 (LV) | 6[i] | Elim | 23% | 58% | 19% | |||||||
| 491 (LV) | 7[i] | 35% | 65% | Elim | ||||||||
| 498 (LV) | 7[j] | 36% | 64% | |||||||||
| 539 (LV) | 7[k] | 41% | 59% | |||||||||
| 539 (LV) | 7[l] | 49% | 51% | |||||||||
| 562 (LV) | 7[m] | 44% | 56% | Elim |
Nick Begich vs. Mary Peltola
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Nick Begich (R) |
Mary Peltola (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data for Progress (D)[54][55] | February 28 – March 7, 2025 | 1000 (LV) | ± 3.0% | 46% | 46% | 5%[n] | 3% |
Nancy Dahlstrom vs. Mary Peltola
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Nancy Dahlstrom (R) |
Mary Peltola (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data for Progress (D)[54][55] | February 28 – March 7, 2025 | 1000 (LV) | ± 3.0% | 34% | 44% | 14%[o] | 7% |
See also
Notes
- Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear - "Another Candidate" with 6%; Adam Crum (R) with 4%
- Adam Crum (R) with 7%; Shelly Hughes (R) with 5%
- Treg Taylor (R) with 5%; Adam Crum (R) with 4%; Shelly Hughes (R) and Matt Heilala (R) with 2%
- All 13 other candidates have less than 9% and more than 0%
- All 13 other candidates have less than 10% and more than 0%
- Shelly Hughes (R) with 4%; Matt Heilala (R) and Treg Taylor (R) with 2%
- Survey asked only Republican voters. In Alaska, all candidates run on the same ballot in a "blanket primary."
- Hypothetical continuation of elimination/distribution even though a candidate already exceeded 50%
- Hypothetical scenario where voters whose fourth ranking is Click Bishop or Bernadette Wilson and whose vote is exhausted when those candidates are eliminated are instead distributed to Nancy Dahlstrom
- Hypothetical scenario above while also distributing the vote of all Republican respondents whose vote was exhausted after eliminating 'Not sure' to Nancy Dahlstrom
- Hypothetical scenario above while also distributing all votes exhausted when a Republican candidate is eliminated to Nancy Dahlstrom
- Hypothetical scenario above while also eliminating Mary Peltola in the first round
- "I would rank neither" with 5%
- "I would rank neither" with 14%
Partisan clients