Gubernatorial candidate Tom Begich speaks during a forum at the 10th annual Alaska Oil and Gas Association (AOGA) conference at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage on Wednesday, August 26. (Bill Roth/ADN) Tom Begich, the former Democratic state lawmaker who finished second in Alaska’s crowded gubernatorial primary, said Friday that he will drop out of the gubernatorial race and endorse Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. Begich was the first Democrat to enter the race and received 20.8% of the primary vote, placing second behind Kreiss-Tomkins, his former colleague in the Legislature, who received 22.5% of the vote. With Begich’s withdrawal, only one Democrat will appear in the November election, paving the way for Kreiss-Tomkins, 37, of Sitka, to solidify Democratic support. In an interview Friday night, Begich said he made the decision to withdraw based on data showing that a Democrat would likely win the gubernatorial race if only one of those candidates appears on the November ballot. It has been nearly three decades since Alaskans last elected a Democrat to serve as governor. pool,” he said. “Being able to get enough resources to run a successful campaign is difficult when you’re No. 2, not No. 1, in the outcome of a primary.” Ultimately, Begich said he believes Kreiss-Tomkins’ priorities are aligned with his own. Both have focused their campaigns on improving the state’s education system, lowering the cost of living and raising new state revenue to pay for government services. “I’ve had a number of conversations with Jonathan, and in each of those conversations, I’ve come out believing that their values and mine are very, very similar,” Begich said. Under Alaska election laws, the top four finishers in the open primary advance to the general election in order of preference. The November vote is expected to include Republican businesswoman Bernadette Wilson, who received 10% of the vote, and former Republican Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson, who received 8.1%. Some Alaska Republican leaders have also made calls for consolidation in the Republican field. But after the initial election results were released, both Wilson and Bronson pledged to stay in the race. The fourth candidate on the November ballot will now be former Republican Attorney General Treg Taylor, who received 7.3% of the vote. However, the Alaska Public Offices Commission this week recommended that his candidacy be invalidated because he did not complete a financial disclosure as required by state law. [Alaska campaign watchdog says Treg Taylor should not be allowed to run for governor]In sixth place is former Republican Labor Commissioner Click Bishop, who received 7% of the vote after receiving an early endorsement from a coalition of Alaska labor organizations. However, the Alaska AFL-CIO said this week that it endorsed Kreiss-Tomkins, noting that Bishop would not benefit from the same labor support if she advances to the November election. Monday is the last day for Alaska candidates to drop out of school. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
