Alaska governor 2026

Compare candidates running in this Alaska federal race. Review their positions, voting records, campaign promises, and donor information.

Nancy Dahlstrom

Party: Republican

Dave Bronson

Party: Republican

Tom Begich

Party: Democrat

Click Bishop

Party: Republican

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governor

Alaska governor

Election: Nov 3, 2026Updated: Apr 10, 2026
lean r— Cook Political Report

Alaska is a reliably Republican state, but the 2026 governor's race is open and competitive due to Dunleavy's term limit. A crowded GOP primary (12+ Republican candidates) with a ranked-choice general election could split the Republican vote, potentially benefiting Democrat Tom Begich if he advances to the top four.

Nancy DahlstromR
Dave BronsonR
Tom BegichD
Click BishopR

Summary

Nancy Dahlstrom (born August 13, 1957) is Alaska's current Lieutenant Governor (2022–present) and a former Alaska House member. She previously served as Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Corrections (2018–2022). Dahlstrom is a conservative Republican who was appointed to the state House in 2003 when Lisa Murkowski was appointed to the U.S. Senate. She ran for Alaska's U.S. House seat in 2024 with Trump's endorsement but finished third and dropped out, consolidating Republican support behind Nick Begich III.

Dave Bronson is a former Anchorage Mayor (2021–2024) and U.S. Air Force pilot with 30+ years in Alaska. He was appointed manager of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport by Governor Dunleavy in January 2026, but resigned after 8 months to focus on his governor's campaign. Bronson's mayoral tenure was controversial and polarizing, marked by conflicts with the Anchorage Assembly over COVID-19 policy, homelessness, and city finances. He is the only gubernatorial candidate with executive branch leadership experience in Alaska.

Tom Begich (born October 31, 1960) is a former Alaska State Senator from Anchorage who represented District J from 2017 to 2023 and served as Senate Minority Leader. He comes from Alaska's most prominent Democratic political family (his father was U.S. Rep. Nick Begich Sr., his brother Mark was U.S. Senator 2009-2015), though his nephew Nick Begich III is a Republican U.S. Representative. Begich is a musician and author who has emphasized pragmatism and cross-party collaboration in Alaska politics. He was the first Democrat to enter the 2026 governor's race.

Click Bishop is a former Alaska State Senator from Fairbanks who served 12 years in the state Senate (2013–2025), spending his entire tenure on the powerful Finance Committee and co-chairing it in 2021-2022. He is a moderate Republican who often caucused with bipartisan coalitions. Bishop previously served as Alaska's Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development under Governors Sarah Palin and Sean Parnell. He is a professional engineer and gold mine owner. At 68, Bishop is running as a consensus-builder and Alaskan-first candidate.

View Nancy Dahlstrom's Full Profile →View Dave Bronson's Full Profile →View Tom Begich's Full Profile →View Click Bishop's Full Profile →

Campaign Promises

Economy
  • Strengthen Alaska's economy and fiscal stability
Education
  • Improve education while respecting parental rights
Public Safety
  • Enhance public safety
Other
  • Improve communication with the legislature
Economy
  • Develop Alaska's natural resources (oil, gas, mining, critical minerals, timber)
  • Invest in infrastructure (roads, bridges, ports)
  • Protect the Permanent Fund Dividend with a constitutional amendment
Education
  • Restore parent rights in schools and focus on reading, writing, math
Education
  • Build a fully funded, strong education system
Energy
  • Move Alaska away from diesel fuel dependency toward sustainable energy alternatives
Other
  • Strengthen cross-party relationships in legislature
Economy
  • Protect and maximize the Permanent Fund for long-term sustainability
Education
  • Improve education, especially career and technical education
Economy
  • Address fiscal challenges with pragmatic approach
  • Increase state employee wages to fill vacant positions
  • Support fisheries and rural economy

Key Issue Positions

Budget crisis
Address the state's dire fiscal situation
Dahlstrom has listed the budget situation as a top priority
Education
Quality education, school choice (implied)
Vague on specific policies but emphasizes results and access; campaign website hints at school choice support
Resource development
Strong support for oil, gas, mining development without new taxes
Believes resource extraction is essential to state finances and job creation
Permanent Fund Dividend
Restore traditional formula (1982-2016) and mandate dividend amounts
Propose constitutional amendment; would cost approximately $2 billion per year above current levels
Education
School choice, parent rights, focus on basics
Opposed some COVID-19 mitigation measures in schools during mayoral tenure
Education funding
Strong support for robust education funding and student outcomes
Emphasized that education funding is essential and must be paired with accountability
Energy policy
Transition to sustainable, affordable, locally-powered energy
Support for energy storage, hydrogen innovation, and renewable projects complementing conventional sources
Fiscal planning
Need realistic, sustainable long-term fiscal plan
Criticized vague fiscal plans and lack of specific revenue measures
Budget crisis
Support pragmatic solutions to manage deficits
Believes strong fiscal management is needed with declining oil revenues
Education
Support career and technical education expansion
Emphasis on CTE programs as pathway to employment

Top Donors

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No donor data available.

Contradictions

No contradictions documented.

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No contradictions documented.

What Opponents Say

No opponent claims documented.

Anchorage Assembly

Bronson's management led to city crises including homeless shelter cancellation mid-construction

Assembly voted 9-3 to defund a 150-bed homeless shelter and navigation center Bronson proposed; Bronson blamed the Assembly for inaction

No opponent claims documented.

No opponent claims documented.

Endorsements

No endorsements listed.

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No endorsements listed.