Murkowski backs Kreiss-Tomkins in Alaska governor contest

Alaska politics shifted Tuesday when Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski threw her weight behind Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. The endorsement places the senator on the side of the Democrat in a state that voted for President Donald Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024. With Election Day one week away, Murkowski’s move sidelines three Republican contenders, including Bernadette Wilson, who holds Trump’s endorsement.

The race has been defined by the tension between party loyalty and cross-aisle cooperation. Murkowski, who is not up for re-election until 2028, cited the need for a governor who can work with the state Legislature. She argued that the three Republican candidates on the ballot are too partisan for the delegation to function effectively in Washington. In an interview with NBC affiliate KTUU, Murkowski described Kreiss-Tomkins as a commonsense candidate with the energy Alaska needs right now.

Kreiss-Tomkins, a former state lawmaker, accepted the support with gratitude. He told KTUU that he admires Murkowski’s ability to work across the aisle in Congress. He noted that the two have had several conversations during his campaign, leading him to believe she was confident in their ticket’s ability to solve problems for the state.

Wilson responded to the endorsement with a statement questioning Murkowski’s long-term alignment with Alaskan values. She referred to Kreiss-Tomkins as “Just Keep Taxing” JKT and argued his allegiance lies with extreme socialists who fight President Trump. Wilson said she was not surprised by the move given Murkowski’s past decisions.

The gubernatorial contest includes Kreiss-Tomkins, former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson, former state Attorney General Treg Taylor, and Wilson. They are competing to succeed term-limited Gov. Mike Dunleavy. The NBC News Decision Desk currently rates the race as leaning Democratic. Alaska uses ranked choice voting, a system that often allows voters to support multiple candidates without fear of wasting a vote.

Murkowski’s endorsement arrives amid a separate dispute involving her Senate colleague, GOP Sen. Dan S. Sullivan. The Trump administration sued Alaska election officials last week, arguing that the presence of a different candidate named Dan J. Sullivan Jr. on the ballot could mislead voters. Murkowski criticized the lawsuit on X, stating that Alaskans do not need help voting and that the state has already distinguished the candidates clearly.

President Trump reacted to Murkowski’s criticism the day after the lawsuit was filed. He took to social media to call her the “Republicans’ Worst Senator, by far.” Murkowski had endorsed Sullivan for re-election earlier this year, a competitive race that also features Democratic candidate Mary Peltola.