Bronson takes the last spot on Alaska's four-way November governor ballot

Former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson has secured the fourth and final spot on Alaska's November ballot for governor — and he says he's staying in, setting up a general election with two Democrats and two Republicans that voters will rank on Nov. 3.

With nearly all precincts reporting in the still-unofficial count, the four advancing candidates are Democrats Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins and Tom Begich in the top two spots, followed by Republicans Bernadette Wilson and Bronson. Bronson finished with about 8 percent of the vote, roughly 1,200 ahead of the next Republican. The top four finishers from the 17-candidate field advance to the general election, where voters rank the candidates and a winner needs a majority of continuing ballots.

Bronson's decision keeps two Republicans on a ranked ballot alongside two Democrats — something some in his own party had hoped to avoid. Ahead of the primary, there had been pressure among Republicans to consolidate behind a single candidate rather than split the conservative vote in November; Wilson, who finished as the top Republican, has been among those arguing that a smaller field gives the party a better chance. In a video with his running mate posted this week, Bronson said he was "not backing down" and "not stepping aside," arguing that in a crowded field, his dropping out would only hand the advantage to a Republican who drew fewer votes than he did.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy is term-limited, opening the seat. Kreiss-Tomkins, a former state representative from Sitka, said in his candidate filing that "Alaska needs change," citing rising prices and closing schools. Begich, a former state Senate minority leader, said in his filing that he was running because he was "not willing to accept Alaska's decline." The Division of Elections plans to certify the results Aug. 31.