ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Two Democrats running to be Alaska’s next governor are leading the pack a day after Tuesday’s primary election, with Anchorage businesswoman Bernadette Wilson and former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson preliminarily making their way out of a crowded Republican field.
With 93.78% of precincts counted, former Sitka state legislator Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, D, has received 21.7% of the vote, former Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich, D, has received 20% of the vote, Wilson received 10.5% of the vote and Bronson received 8.4% of the vote.
MORE: See full election results as they stand
Wilson and Bronson were fighting for an electorate split on who they could vote for. Including the two expected to make it to November, there were 12 Republicans vying for the top spot.
The top vote earner, Kreiss-Tomkins, attributed the early lead to Alaskans demanding change.
“Today, Alaskans took the first huge step in choosing a new direction for our state,” Kreiss-Tomkins said in a statement Tuesday night. “We’re excited and humbled by the thousands of Alaskans who stood with our campaign to support our schools, protect our fisheries, lower everyday costs for energy, healthcare, and housing, and make it possible for Alaskans to build their futures here.”
With 60% of precincts in Tuesday evening, Tom Begich said the results were clear in an interview with Alaska’s News Source.
“Alaskans have clearly sent a message out there for change. That’s why you’re seeing both of the progressive candidates at the top,” he said.
“I think the message is education matters to Alaskans, affordability matters to Alaskans and being able to pay for it,” Begich added. “We have been both clear about that. That message has been strong in both campaigns.”
With both Democrats likely to qualify for the general election, Democrats now have a question on their hands: will both stay in and run the risk of dividing their base?
Tuesday night, Begich didn’t know the answer.
“I think that waits to be determined after we see who the other … candidates are,” he said. “All of that is part of anyone’s calculation. I would think that if I end up on top of the number that Jonathan has, he would be doing the same calculation.”
Bernadette Wilson told Alaska’s News Source after ballots closed — but before there were any results — that making it to the top four says the state is looking for a different kind of change.
“I think it sends a very strong message that we are ready for a political outsider,” she said. “We’re ready for someone to come in and clean it up. We’re done with backroom deals. We’re done with inside lobbyists and everything else. We are ready to see all of this state cleaned up.
“I’m one of the only ones that has never worked for government. I think so that had a big impact. Signing the front of a paycheck most certainly had a big impact.”
Speaking with Alaska’s News Source along the side of the Seward Highway Tuesday afternoon with campaign signs and supporters behind him, Dave Bronson said he was confident he would be making it out of the primary.
Bronson thanked Alaskans “from around the state who have faith in our ticket” and was “proud of my team and the results,” in a Tuesday night statement.
As the number four pick, and with thousands of votes still to be counted, Bronson said on social media “our campaign will make the decision that best advances that goal and gives Republicans the strongest path to victory in November.”
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with new information
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