Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has declared her support for Democratic candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins in the Alaskan gubernatorial race. This endorsement represents a significant departure from President Trump and the majority of Republican officials.
The announcement was made during an interview with KTUU’s Rebecca Palsha and via a statement shared with reporters and Kreiss-Tomkins’ campaign.
Kreiss-Tomkins, commonly called JKT, is the only Democrat competing to succeed Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy, who is term-limited. Other candidates include Republicans Bernadette Wilson, Dave Bronson, and Treg Taylor. Notably, Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system requires voters to rank candidates by preference in the upcoming general election on November 3.
Recent polls show Kreiss-Tomkins leading, attributed to the split Republican vote among the three candidates.
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Just in: Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski has endorsed Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, the Alaska Democratic Candidate for Governor pic.twitter.com/jkanvV3LxY
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In the KTUU interview, Murkowski commented, “JKT is a young Alaskan with a view and a perspective that I think Alaska needs right now.”
She emphasized the need for a cooperative governor who can engage effectively with the legislature. “We need a governor who’s going to work with the legislature,” she stated. “That has got to happen for the delegation to be successful back in Washington DC.”
Murkowski also critiqued Governor Dunleavy’s administration, claiming they’ve missed opportunities for federal funding, specifically referencing the state’s Alaska Marine Highway System.
Addressing her relationship with the Alaska Republican Party, Murkowski acknowledged, “I have not always been on the Alaska Republican Party’s good list,” but affirmed her commitment to serving all Alaskans, regardless of political affiliation.
In her official statement, she remarked, “Our future is too important to be hamstrung by partisan divisions. Jonathan understands that governing requires listening to people with different perspectives and finding common ground.” Murkowski expressed belief in Kreiss-Tomkins’ intention to work towards solutions for Alaskans of all political backgrounds.
Murkowski has a history of crossing party lines, having previously endorsed Democrat Mary Peltola for her U.S. House re-election in 2024. She has also supported her Republican colleague, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, for his re-election in 2026.
