JKT pulls into statistical tie for second in Alaska governor's race

Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins has more than doubled his support in the Alaska governor's race since April, a new poll shows, pulling into a statistical tie for second place and within the poll's margin of error of the leader.

Public Policy Polling, commissioned and released by the Kreiss-Tomkins campaign, placed the Democratic candidate tied with Republican Dave Bronson and 3 points behind Democrat Tom Begich. That gap falls within the poll's plus or minus 4.2 percentage point margin of error, putting all three within a single statistical band. The campaign says Kreiss-Tomkins has posted the largest increase in support of any candidate in the field, in both absolute and percentage terms, based on publicly available polling since April.

The numbers shift when filtered by name recognition. Among voters who have heard of Kreiss-Tomkins, he leads the field at 26 percent, compared to 16 percent for Bronson and 15 percent for Begich. His statewide name recognition is approaching 50 percent, according to the campaign's release of the poll memo.

Kreiss-Tomkins launched digital advertising on Meta, YouTube, and streaming television and radio platforms three weeks before the poll was conducted. The campaign says he is drawing support from Democrats, independents, and moderate Republicans.

Endorsements and Background

Former Gov. Tony Knowles has endorsed Kreiss-Tomkins. So have the Alaska Professional Fire Fighters Association, the Alaska Public Employees Association/American Federation of Teachers, SEIU 775, and the Kodiak Seiners Association. The campaign also cites endorsements from elected leaders from Cordova to Kotzebue and Anchorage to Fairbanks.

Kreiss-Tomkins represented Southeast Alaska in the Alaska State House from 2013 to 2023. He has named Anchorage Assembly member Zach Johnson as his running mate for lieutenant governor. Bronson, the former Anchorage mayor, is running as a Republican. Begich is running as a Democrat.

Alaska holds its primary in August. The full PPP poll memo is available through a link in the campaign's release.