Governor / Lieutenant Governor of Alaska · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Alaska governor / lieutenant governor race?
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins has the strongest record in the Alaska governor / lieutenant governor race. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins scores 69 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Treg Taylor at 59 and Dave Bronson at 55, as of October 6, 2026. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Treg Taylor's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. James Parkin (3 of 15 criteria) and Bernadette Wilson (6 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Dave Bronson
On the ballot as Dave Bronson / Josh Church
55 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- 25
Democratic
Strongest record
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
On the ballot as Jonathan S. "JKT" Kreiss-Tomkins / Zac Johnson
69 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 88
- Performance
- 75
Write-in
James Parkin
On the ballot as James W. "JP4" Parkin / Ramadhani "Ram" Greer
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 3 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Treg Taylor
On the ballot as Treg Taylor / Candi English
59 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 44
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 50
Republican
Bernadette Wilson
On the ballot as Bernadette M. Wilson / Michael K. Shower
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 56
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Dave Bronson
- Mark against2024-03-20
The Anchorage ombudsman found that city workers in his administration knowingly violated city code by raising the Sullivan Arena shelter's capacity.
Sources: Alaska Public Media via KTOO, March 20, 2024, Anchorage Daily News, March 20, 2024
- Mark against2024-03-20
The ombudsman found that sole-source contracts his administration awarded to adviser Larry Baker did not follow the city purchasing code.
Sources: Alaska Public Media via KTOO, March 20, 2024, Anchorage Daily News, March 20, 2024
- On the record2026-09
A Department of Law informal review flagged possible omissions in his financial disclosure; he said each flagged item was incorrect and that he received no income from them.
- On the record2024-04
The city's annual audit of 2022 finances was about 10 months late; city code requires completion within 90 days of year end.
- On the record2022-12 to 2024-10
His fired municipal manager, Amy Demboski, sued him alleging retaliation and discrimination; the Assembly approved a $250,000 settlement in October 2024.
Sources: Alaska Public Media via KTOO, Sept. 6, 2023, Anchorage Daily News, Oct. 9, 2024
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
- On the record2026-08
ADN reported that his campaign is funded primarily by contributions from outside Alaska, including sizable sums from employees of a California AI company.
- On the record2026-09
A Department of Law informal review found he had not listed his seat on the Outer Coast board; he filed an amended disclosure.
- Credit2019 to 2020
Rated Above Expectations and second in the Alaska House by the Center for Effective Lawmaking's state legislative effectiveness scores for 2019 to 2020.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
- Credit2017 to 2022
Chaired the House State Affairs Committee and co-chaired the House Comprehensive Fiscal Plan Working Group.
Sources: Alaska Legislature, committee membership, 32nd Legislature, Ballotpedia, Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
James Parkin
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Treg Taylor
- Mark against2025-09 to 2026-08
APOC found his 2026 financial disclosure did not substantially comply with state law because he withheld tenants' full names, and voted 4-1 to recommend he not be certified.
Sources: Anchorage Daily News, Aug. 28, 2026, Alaska Beacon via Yahoo News, Sept. 5, 2026
- On the record2026-08-31 to 2026-09-04
Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom removed him from the general election ballot on Aug. 31, then reversed herself on Sept. 4 after a Department of Law review found similar errors by many candidates.
Sources: Anchorage Daily News via Yahoo News, Aug. 31, 2026, Alaska Beacon via Yahoo News, Sept. 5, 2026
- On the record2026-09-17
ADN reported he did not list about $69,000 in 2025 travel gifts from two attorney general associations on his financial disclosure; he said advisers told him it was not required.
- On the record2025
Chaired the Attorney General Alliance, a bipartisan association of attorneys general, in 2025.
- Credit2025-07
As attorney general signed Alaska onto opioid settlements, including up to $12.2 million from Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family.
Bernadette Wilson
- On the record2026-09
Republican strategist Joel Borgquist filed an APOC complaint over her financial disclosure; staff found she erred by not disclosing her 75 percent ownership of Denali Disposal.
Where it stands: Pending before APOC; staff recommended she need not list customers and that any fine be reduced or eliminated. Commission hearing expected Oct. 8, 2026.
Sources: Anchorage Daily News via Yahoo News, Sept. 22, 2026, Alaska Beacon via Yahoo News, Sept. 12, 2026
- On the record2021 to 2025
Directed the Alaska Policy Forum and the Alaska chapter of Americans for Prosperity between 2021 and 2025, and worked on Rep. Nick Begich's 2024 campaign.
- On the record2019 to 2024
Judges ordered her and her company, Denali Disposal, to pay $74,807 to three businesses over unpaid bills, two by default judgment, according to court records reviewed by ADN.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Dave Bronson. Personal financial disclosure on file with APOC. A September 2026 Department of Law informal review flagged possible omissions, which he disputes; no APOC finding against him was found.
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. Personal financial disclosure on file with APOC; after a September 2026 Department of Law informal review flagged an unlisted board seat, he filed an amended disclosure. No APOC finding against him was found.
James Parkin. No public record found.
Treg Taylor. The Alaska Public Offices Commission found his 2026 financial disclosure did not substantially comply with state law because he withheld his tenants' full names, and voted 4-1 to recommend disqualification; the lieutenant governor later reinstated him.
Sources: Anchorage Daily News, Aug. 28, 2026, Alaska Beacon via Yahoo News, Sept. 5, 2026
Bernadette Wilson. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Dave Bronson. No public record found.
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. No public record found.
James Parkin. No public record found.
Treg Taylor. No public record found.
Bernadette Wilson. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Dave Bronson. Attended the Aug. 26 AOGA, Aug. 28 Alaska Municipal League, Sept. 8 Last Frontier Republican Club, Sept. 9 Kodiak and Sept. 17 Commonwealth North governor forums, among others.
Source: Alaska Beacon via Yahoo News, debate list updated Oct. 4, 2026
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. Attended the AOGA, Alaska Municipal League, Last Frontier Republican Club, Kodiak, Commonwealth North and other 2026 governor forums.
Source: Alaska Beacon via Yahoo News, debate list updated Oct. 4, 2026
James Parkin. No public record found.
Treg Taylor. Attended the Last Frontier Republican Club, Kodiak fisheries, Alaska Hospital and Healthcare Association, Commonwealth North and other 2026 governor forums.
Source: Alaska Beacon via Yahoo News, debate list updated Oct. 4, 2026
Bernadette Wilson. Attended the AOGA, Kodiak fisheries, Alaska Hospital and Healthcare Association, Resource Development Council and energy forums in 2026. She has declined multiple ADN interview requests.
Sources: Alaska Beacon via Yahoo News, debate list updated Oct. 4, 2026, Anchorage Daily News, Oct. 3, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Dave Bronson. Retired commercial pilot and Anchorage mayor from 2021 to 2024, with no censure, reprimand or formal conduct finding against him personally found. A wrongful-termination suit by his fired city manager settled for $250,000.
Sources: Alaska Public Media, June 16, 2021, Anchorage Daily News, Oct. 9, 2024
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. Ten years in the Alaska House with no censure, reprimand or formal conduct finding found.
James Parkin. No public record found.
Treg Taylor. Attorney for 22 years, deputy attorney general over the civil division and attorney general from 2021 to 2025, with no censure, reprimand or formal conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Treg Taylor
Bernadette Wilson. Business owner, talk radio host and director of two advocacy groups, with no censure, reprimand or formal conduct finding found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Dave Bronson. Took the oath as mayor of Anchorage in 2021. No official finding of misuse of office by him found; he answered that Congress certified the 2020 election and Joe Biden became president.
Source: Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. Took the oath as a state representative five times (2013 to 2023). No official finding of misuse of office found; he answered that Joe Biden won the 2020 election.
Sources: Alaska Legislature, member detail, Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data
James Parkin. No public record found.
Treg Taylor. Took the oath as Alaska attorney general (May 2021 to August 2025). No official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Treg Taylor
Bernadette Wilson. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Dave Bronson. Served one term as mayor of Anchorage (2021 to 2024), an elected executive office; later an Anchorage airport manager.
Source: Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. Served five terms in the Alaska House of Representatives, 2013 to 2023 (E9: two or more legislative terms).
Sources: Alaska Legislature, member detail, Ballotpedia, Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
James Parkin. No public record found.
Treg Taylor. Alaska attorney general for four years, a senior statewide post, after serving as deputy attorney general. Has not held elected office.
Source: Ballotpedia, Treg Taylor
Bernadette Wilson. Owns and runs Denali Disposal, a garbage-collection company, and directed the Alaska Policy Forum and the Alaska chapter of Americans for Prosperity between 2021 and 2025. Has not held public office.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Dave Bronson. Publishes specific state proposals, including paying the dividend by the statutory formula, requiring ballots be received by Election Day and photo ID for in-person voting.
Source: Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. Chaired the House State Affairs Committee in the 30th and 32nd Legislatures and co-chaired the House fiscal plan working group; publishes detailed proposals such as a fixed-percentage dividend draw within an endowment.
Sources: Alaska Legislature, committee membership, 32nd Legislature, Alaska Legislature, committee membership, 30th Legislature, Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data
James Parkin. His campaign site lists issue pages in general terms, including a sustainable budget, no taxes and the Permanent Fund dividend.
Source: JP4 campaign site
Treg Taylor. Publishes specific positions in the joint media questionnaire and Ballotpedia survey, such as quicker ballot processing and opposing new taxes, drawing on four years running the Department of Law.
Sources: Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data, Ballotpedia, Treg Taylor
Bernadette Wilson. States positions in general terms at forums, such as appointing a special fisheries adviser. She declined the joint media questionnaire.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Dave Bronson. Answered the 2026 joint Alaska media voter guide questionnaire, publishes a campaign site and has taken part in many forums.
Sources: Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data, Alaska Beacon via Yahoo News, debate list updated Oct. 4, 2026
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, answered the joint Alaska media voter guide questionnaire and has taken part in many forums.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data
James Parkin. Publishes issue pages on his campaign site. Did not complete Ballotpedia's 2026 survey; write-ins were not in the joint media guide.
Sources: JP4 campaign site, Ballotpedia, James Parkin
Treg Taylor. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, answered the joint Alaska media voter guide questionnaire and has taken part in several forums. He declined the guide's question on the 2020 election.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Treg Taylor, Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data
Bernadette Wilson. Takes part in forums and runs a campaign site. Declined the joint Alaska media voter guide questionnaire and has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data, Ballotpedia, Bernadette Wilson
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Dave Bronson. Has lived in Alaska 35 years and lives in Anchorage, where he served as mayor. In-state share of contributions not computed (APOC reports not reachable).
Source: Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. Born in Sitka and a lifelong Alaskan; represented Sitka in the House. ADN reports his campaign is funded primarily by contributions from outside Alaska.
Sources: Alaska Legislature, member detail, Anchorage Daily News, Aug. 8, 2026
James Parkin. Lives in Angoon; his write-in filing lists an Angoon address.
Source: Alaska Division of Elections 2026 general candidate list
Treg Taylor. Has lived in Alaska 27 years and lives in Anchorage. In-state share of contributions not computed (APOC reports not reachable).
Source: Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data
Bernadette Wilson. Born in Kenai and raised in Anchorage; has lived in Alaska 42 years. In-state share of contributions not computed (APOC reports not reachable).
Sources: Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data, Wilson campaign site
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Dave Bronson. Led a city government with a general budget of about $600 million. In 2024 the Anchorage ombudsman found that city workers in his administration knowingly violated city code when raising the Sullivan Arena shelter's capacity.
Sources: Alaska Public Media, Oct. 2, 2023, Alaska Public Media via KTOO, March 20, 2024
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. No public record found.
James Parkin. No public record found.
Treg Taylor. As attorney general led the Department of Law, budgeted for 560 permanent full-time positions in fiscal 2024.
Source: Alaska OMB, Department of Law fiscal 2024 component summary
Bernadette Wilson. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Dave Bronson. No public record found.
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. Center for Effective Lawmaking state scores rate him Above Expectations in 2013 to 2014 and 2019 to 2020 (second in the House) and Meets Expectations in his other three terms; six bills he sponsored became law.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
James Parkin. No public record found.
Treg Taylor. Under him the state signed onto opioid settlements worth up to about $14 million for Alaska; he cites crime at a 40-year low, a figure he said he is 'a little wary' of.
Sources: Alaska Public Media, July 21, 2025, Alaska's News Source, July 8, 2025
Bernadette Wilson. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Dave Bronson. No public record found.
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. No public record found.
James Parkin. No public record found.
Treg Taylor. No public record found.
Bernadette Wilson. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Dave Bronson. No public record found.
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. No public record found.
James Parkin. No public record found.
Treg Taylor. No public record found.
Bernadette Wilson. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Dave Bronson. No public record found.
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. No public record found.
James Parkin. No public record found.
Treg Taylor. Chaired the Attorney General Alliance, a bipartisan association of attorneys general, in 2025, and joined multistate opioid settlements with attorneys general of both parties.
Bernadette Wilson. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Dave Bronson. The Anchorage ombudsman found in 2024 that sole-source contracts his administration awarded to adviser Larry Baker did not follow the city purchasing code. The city's 2022 audit ran about 10 months late.
Sources: Alaska Public Media via KTOO, March 20, 2024, Anchorage Daily News, April 2, 2024
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. No public record found.
James Parkin. No public record found.
Treg Taylor. No public record found.
Bernadette Wilson. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Alaska governor / lieutenant governor race?
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins has the strongest record in the Alaska governor / lieutenant governor race. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins scores 69 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Treg Taylor at 59 and Dave Bronson at 55, as of October 6, 2026. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Treg Taylor's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. James Parkin (3 of 15 criteria) and Bernadette Wilson (6 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Alaska governor / lieutenant governor race in 2026?
Dave Bronson (Republican), Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (Democratic), James Parkin (Write-in), Treg Taylor (Republican), Bernadette Wilson (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Dave Bronson a good candidate for Governor / Lieutenant Governor?
Dave Bronson scores 55 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance 25 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins a good candidate for Governor / Lieutenant Governor?
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins scores 69 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 88 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is James Parkin a good candidate for Governor / Lieutenant Governor?
James Parkin has public evidence on 3 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Treg Taylor a good candidate for Governor / Lieutenant Governor?
Treg Taylor scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 44 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Bernadette Wilson a good candidate for Governor / Lieutenant Governor?
Bernadette Wilson has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Alaska race scored, and the Alaska 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.