Dahlstrom reverses course, will certify Taylor for the November ballot

Treg Taylor will be on the November ballot for governor after all. Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom reversed herself Friday, four days after refusing to certify him.

Her reason is not that Taylor complied. It is that she no longer trusts the standard.

The Alaska Department of Law ran its own review of candidates' financial disclosures this week and found what Dahlstrom's office described as numerous potential discrepancies between what candidates filed and what public records show. The department calls the review preliminary and says it does not conclude that any particular candidate broke the law.

"I will not withhold certification from two candidates on recommendations that, in light of this additional information, I cannot apply with confidence across the field of candidates," Dahlstrom said. "Certification decisions have to rest on a process that can be defended as to every candidate."

Her office said the department gave the Alaska Public Offices Commission a working draft of the same findings Thursday evening, and that the commission has not moved to reconsider its recommendations even with ballots needing to be finalized.

The commission had voted 4-1 that Taylor's 2026 disclosure did not substantially comply with state law within the 30 days allowed, a window that closed July 1. It issued its written order Aug. 28, and Dahlstrom announced three days later that she would not certify him.

The Division of Elections will update its certified candidate list, including the pairing for governor and lieutenant governor. The general election is Nov. 3.