Alaska elects its first Democratic governor since 1998, as Kreiss-Tomkins wins the race AP called on Friday
Alaska voters have elected Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins as governor, the first Democrat to win the office since 1998, after the Associated Press called the race on Friday, ten days after voting ended. The 37-year-old former state lawmaker defeated three Republicans, including the candidate endorsed by President Trump, and his win gives Democrats the governor's office in 30 states. He will be sworn in on 7 December; the result remains unofficial until the state certifies it.
Checking in progress
This story is still being checked. Claims below are published as claims — never dressed as facts — and each one moves only when the evidence earns it.
- Collecting reportsDone
- Grouping the versionsDone
- Checking claims4 of 4 claims checked
- 4Human gateWe are here
4 of 4 claims checked so far · step 4 of 4: Human gate
Key points
- AP called Alaska's governor's race on Friday for Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins — the first Democrat elected to the office since 1998.
- He defeated three Republicans, including Trump-endorsed Bernadette Wilson; Democrats will now hold 30 governorships.
- The 37-year-old former state lawmaker campaigned on affordability, school funding and taxing all oil and gas producers.
Show more (1)
- He will be sworn in on 7 December; the result stays unofficial until the state certifies it.
What happened
Alaska voted on 3 November in the US midterm elections, under its ranked-choice system, and the governor's race was among the last in the country to be called as ballots from remote communities and by mail were counted. Kreiss-Tomkins finished first in August's open primary; the second Democrat, Tom Begich, withdrew so Democratic voters, donors and resources would unite behind one candidate.
The win continues the Democrats' midterm wave in state governments: AP reports the party flipped governorships held by Republicans for years in states including Iowa, Georgia, Ohio and Texas, on its way to controlling 30 governor's offices.
What we know / what we don't know yet
What we know
- That AP called the race for Kreiss-Tomkins on Friday, and Reuters and NBC News projected the same winner.
- That he takes office on 7 December, with independent Zac Johnson as lieutenant governor.
- That Democrats will control the governor's office in 30 states.
What we don't know yet
- The certified result — the count remains unofficial until the Alaska Division of Elections certifies it, reported for 25 November.
- The final vote shares for each candidate — figures circulating in secondary reports have not been settled against the state's own tally.
- Bernadette Wilson's response to the call — her campaign had not commented in the reporting read.
Claim by claim
Show all claims (4)
Why this label: AP called the race and Reuters reported the same call, also projected by NBC News; the result is a race call, and state certification is still to come.
On the ladder: a claim earns Verified from primary evidence, or from two independent sources that do not copy each other.
Why this label: The biography, the platform points and the cross-party cabinet pledge are from AP's report of his campaign and his own remarks at a candidate forum.
On the ladder: a claim earns Verified from primary evidence, or from two independent sources that do not copy each other.
Why this label: The endorsements, the victory statement and the first reactions are all in AP's report; Wilson's fuller response is carried in the don't-know list.
On the ladder: a claim earns Verified from primary evidence, or from two independent sources that do not copy each other.
Why this label: The swearing-in date, the lieutenant governor and the Knowles dates are stated by AP; Reuters agrees he takes office after the November 3 midterms.
On the ladder: a claim earns Verified from primary evidence, or from two independent sources that do not copy each other.
Why it matters
Alaska has not chosen a Democratic governor since 1998, and the result — won with a Republican senator's endorsement and a cross-party pitch — shows how far this year's midterm wave reached beyond the states Democrats usually win. Kreiss-Tomkins will govern a state whose budget rests on oil, with pledges to tax producers and pause new data centres.
Background
Show the background timeline (4)
Tony Knowles is re-elected — the last time Alaska voters chose a Democratic governor before 2026.
Kreiss-Tomkins finishes first in the open primary; fellow Democrat Tom Begich withdraws and backs him.
Alaska votes in the US midterm elections under its ranked-choice system.
The Associated Press calls the governor's race for Kreiss-Tomkins.
Update history
No silent edits. Every change is written here, with its time.
- Latest
Published in Checking state — AP has called the race and Reuters projects the same winner; the story will be updated when the state certifies the result.