The Associated Press called Alaska’s governor’s race for Gov.-elect Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, a Democrat, whose win adds to a midterm cycle reshaping state executive offices across the United States.
Democrats will hold 30 governors’ offices nationwide, up from 24, NPR reported. NPR said the AP call came after more than a week of vote counting.
Alaska Public Media reporter Eric Stone reported that Kreiss-Tomkins, 37, represented Sitka in the state House and will be the youngest governor in Alaska’s history. Stone said he campaigned on cooperation across party lines and plans to include Democrats, Republicans and independents in his administration.
Stone also reported that Alaskans face sharp increases in food, fuel and housing costs. Schools have closed and classes have grown as state funding stayed relatively flat amid rising expenses. A looming shortage of accessible natural gas near population centers could push prices higher.
Kreiss-Tomkins faced three Republican candidates, including Trump-backed business owner Bernadette Wilson. Alaska uses ranked-choice voting, which requires a candidate to win a majority; voters rejected a separate proposal to end the system, according to another AP call.
Kreiss-Tomkins will replace term-limited Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who has led Alaska since 2018. The state’s last Democratic governor was former Gov. Tony Knowles, who left office in 2002. Kreiss-Tomkins is set to take office at 4 p.m. ET (noon Alaska time) Dec. 7.
