ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Sen. Lisa Murkowski has endorsed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins.
“JKT is young Alaskan with a view and a perspective that I think Alaska needs right now,” Murkowski told Rebecca Palsha on Tuesday.
Murkowski says the state needs a governor who’s willing to work with all lawmakers in Juneau and someone who’s interested in building things, rather than halting action.
“We need a governor who’s going to work with the legislature,” she said. “That has got to happen for the delegation to be successful back in Washington DC.”
Murkowski also says polls reveal that Alaskans aren’t happy with the way the state is heading. She also was critical about the Gov. Mike Dunleavy administration.
“I have found fault. I have found fault with the Dunleavy administration. I think that they have left federal money on the table. I think in certain areas, where we have worked hard to put opportunities from the federal side, here, into the state, the state has failed with it.”
She pointed specifically to the Alaska Marine Highway System.
Alaska’s senior senator has long gone against party lines and has previously endorsed Democrat Mary Peltola for re-election to the U.S. House, which she lost to current Rep. Nick Begich in 2024. She also didn’t vote for the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court in 2018.
She has long been a target for President Donald Trump since his first term and his harsh words for her have escalated as election day comes closer. Trump endorsed Republican Bernadette Wilson on Oct. 13, hours before he appeared for a rally in Wasilla.
Trump has called Murkowski one of the worst members of the chamber and has also criticized ranked-choice voting, calling it a “DEMOCRAT SCAM.”
“The Republicans’ Worst Senator, by far, Lisa Murkowski, of the Great State of Alaska,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, before describing her as a “DISGRACE to Alaska and our Country.”
In response to previous criticisms from other GOP leaders about not always voting along party lines, Murkowski answered that she is aware that she has “not always been on the Alaska Republican Party’s good list.”
“I recognize that, but that’s not my directive,” Murkowski said. “My directive is to serve the people of the state of Alaska. And that does mean Republicans and it does mean Democrats and means Independents and it means people who choose not to be affiliated with any party at all.”
Kreiss-Tomkins, the former Sitka state lawmaker — known to most as J.K.T. — is the only Democrat in Alaska’s race for governor. He is running against the top Republicans: Bernadette Wilson, Dave Bronson and Treg Taylor.
Wilson has repeatedly asked Bronson and Taylor to drop out of the race to avoid splitting a Republican vote and so has President Trump.
In the second of the two social media posts this month, Trump said he would not endorse Bronson, claiming that Bronson “begged” him for support but Trump said he would not oblige because he was not the top Republican in the state primary in August. Bronson told Alaska’s News Source his recollection of the events leading to the Trump endorsement were “different from mine.”
Bronson responded Tuesday to a request for comment from Alaska’s News Source within an hour of Murkowski’s endorsement, stating the the senator is “entitled to endorse whoever she chooses, just as President Trump is.”
“That is her decision to make,” Bronson said. “My loyalty, however, remains with the people of Alaska not any political figure or endorsement.
“I respect that voters will make their own decisions, and I’ll keep making my case directly to them: through my experience, my record of service, and my commitment to Alaska’s future. This race should be about the people we serve and the challenges facing our state. I’m focused on earning Alaskans’ trust and working for what is best for them.”
In response to Tuesday’s news, Treg Taylor expressed disappointment that Murkowski would endorse a Democrat for governor.
“I am not surprised by the support former Governors Bill Walker and Tony Knowles have given Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins,” Taylor stated. “Under their leadership, Alaskans experienced either increased taxes or reduced PFD’s. Their endorsements for a candidate proposing new taxes are consistent with that history.
“What is particularly disappointing is Senator Lisa Murkowski’s decision to cross party lines and endorse a Democrat for governor. Alaskans deserve leadership that protects their PFDs , respects their hard-earned money, and prioritizes fiscal responsibility over additional taxation. As your Governor, I will do just that!”
In a September 2026 New York Times/Siena Poll, Kreiss-Tomkins is ranked as the top candidate with about 40% of Alaska likely voters choosing him. Wilson sits at 20%, Taylor 11% and Bronson at 15%.
Kreiss-Tomkins has also brought in more money than either three Republican candidates.
In an interview with Alaska’s News Source from this past summer, Kreiss-Tomkins said he was running for governor to help move the state in the right direction.
“I feel like the last eight years under our current governor, have been, frankly, a failure. Kind of a dumpster fire for Alaska. All the indicators feel like our state is going in the wrong direction and I want to turn that around. I believe in problem solving and working together. That was very much my approach in the legislature. I feel like we have been absolutely missing that in the governor’s office the last eight years and I want to sort of change that equation,” he said at the time.
This is a developing story, check back for details. Reporter Wil Courtney contributed to this report.
Copyright 2026 KTUU. All rights reserved.