Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins has moved ahead in the Alaska governor race, holding 50.2% of the vote in the latest count. If that majority holds as remaining ballots are tallied, he will avoid the state's ranked-choice runoff and defeat three Republican opponents.
How the Alaska governor race count stands
As of Friday morning, 88% of expected ballots had been processed. Kreiss-Tomkins leads a four-candidate field that includes three Republicans: Bernadette M. Wilson, Dave Bronson and Treg Taylor. Wilson, a television and radio host, trails with 28.7%, followed by Bronson at 13.8% and Taylor at 7.3%.
Alaska's rules require a candidate to clear 50% of first-choice votes to win outright. If nobody does, the last-place candidate is dropped and those ballots go to voters' next choices, a process that repeats until someone has a majority. Kreiss-Tomkins's campaign projects he will finish with 51% to 52% once outstanding ballots are counted, according to the Anchorage Daily News.
Why are there four candidates on the ballot?
Alaska voters adopted ranked-choice voting and an open primary in 2020. The open primary lets several candidates from one party reach the general election, which is how three Republicans ended up on the November 3 ballot. Kreiss-Tomkins took 23% in the 17-candidate primary, and former state Sen. Tom Begich, who placed second, withdrew to avoid splitting the Democratic vote.
What happens next in Alaska
A win would make Kreiss-Tomkins the first Democrat to lead Alaska in more than two decades. Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a conservative Republican, was termed out after two terms. Wilson has not conceded, and the race has not been called by national outlets.
Alaska has one of the fastest executive transitions in the country. Results are set to be certified by Nov. 25, and the new governor is sworn in Dec. 7. That leaves little time to hire staff; Kreiss-Tomkins said his transition will be led by three co-chairs: a Republican, a Democrat and an independent. He told the Resource Development Council conference in Anchorage that he wants to be "an administration for all Alaskans."
FAQ
Has the race been officially called?
CNN's Decision Desk projected Kreiss-Tomkins the winner on Nov. 12, but the Associated Press and other outlets have not called it while ballots remain.
What happens if he falls below 50%?
The race would go to a ranked-choice tabulation on Nov. 18, with lower-ranked choices redistributed until a candidate reaches a majority.
