By ALEX GIMARC
July 30, 2026 – Former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson is positioning himself as the conservative alternative to Bernadette Wilson for governor this year. He has a strong, loyal following of supporters who admire him for his no-holds-barred knife-and-razor-blade fight with the leftist Anchorage Assembly every second he was in office Jul 2021 – Jul 2024.
Granted that it is difficult to get anything done when the political left and their union supporters are ready, willing and able to literally crawl through broken glass to ensure he had no success while in office, I must however respectfully oppose his candidacy for Alaska governor.
As background, we both come from a similar background, former military with aviation experience. We are both conservative in varying degrees. I really liked his conservative approach to governance, particularly that of his attempted approach to homelessness.
We diverge on one very big military consideration: threat identification, analysis and response. This is the basic approach, a continuous cycle of detecting potential adversaries, evaluating intent and capability, and executing measures to neutralize that risk.
In other words, if Mayor Bronson identified the Anchorage Assembly, installed with a veto-proof, union-backed majority under former mayor Ethan Berkowitz as a threat to Anchorage, what did he do about them?
Zip. Zero. Nada. Which ultimately killed his administration. Worse, on his way out of office, he managed to install one of the members of that Assembly, Suzanne LaFrance, little more than a puppet of the Assembly and its union backers, as Anchorage mayor.
Once you identify a problem, you ought to address that problem by taking steps to mitigate it or make it disappear. As Bronson never had the Assembly votes to pass anything, rather than spending all his time and political energy butting heads with Chris Constant, Felix Rivera, Meg Zaletel, and Forrest Dunbar, why didn’t he publicly go after them, and run a continuous political campaign to replace as many of those bozos as possible in subsequent elections?
If you don’t go on offense, you are always in a defensive crouch and will eventually get steamrolled into oblivion. Think of it as political prevent defense.
With that lesson in mind, look forward to a possible Bronson administration as Alaska governor. He will be in precisely the same position as he was as Anchorage mayor, a conservative governor locked in a cage death match with a democrat-led legislature. What makes any of us think the outcome this time around will be any different than it was in Anchorage, where he handed over complete political control of the city to democrats on his way out of office?
I like Mayor Bronson. I like him a lot. I like his policies. I don’t like his political approach, as he never properly identified the threat (democrat majority on the Anchorage Assembly) nor did he do anything about it. If you are in a cage death match and know you are political roadkill, sooner or later you need to put a knife in your teeth, grab a chainsaw, light your hair on fire and remove as many of the Other Side from the political gene pool as possible on your way down. Bronson didn’t and probably won’t next time around.
What makes you Bronson supporters believe the results as governor will be any different than his results were as Anchorage mayor? Worse, should he make the top four for the RCV runoff, what makes you think his stubbornness won’t hand the Alaska governorship over to Tom Begich, JKT or both, when they combine campaigns in September?
At this point, I would suggest the Bronson candidacy is fool’s gold, an exercise in doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result, or a self-serving vanity project. There are other conservative candidates out there who are far better choices in the primary and general election, ones without a history of political failure in one of the highest political offices in the state.
Maybe we ought to consider one of them instead.
Alex Gimarc lives in Anchorage since retiring from the military in 1997. His interests include science and technology, environment, energy, economics, military affairs, fishing and disabilities policies. His weekly column “Interesting Items” is a summary of news stories with substantive Alaska-themed topics. He was a small business owner and Information Technology professional.
33 thoughts on “Alex Gimarc: Dave Bronson for governor? Probably not”
I have spoken to this fella twice, which is a bit of surprise given my political involvent over many decades. What stands out is the very weak and lackluster campaign he ran for re-election as mayor. I would even use the adjective “flaccid”. He lacks the energy necessary to run a successful campaign for governor.
Remind me when Berny makes a speech, I’ll set a baby raddle on the podium.
True enough, the greatest weakness of the AKGOP is its adherence to virtuous ethics – integrity. If you really want to win and affect meaningful – significant change (ie: for the betterment of Alaska and Alaskans), then you’ve got lower your standards and ethics, going for the jugular and kill-shot! Well, when the skeletons come out of the closet, if that does in fact come about and it’s used as leverage by the lunatic-left, we might have regrets for not voting for Bronson // Crum?
So this race on the Republican side is down to skeletons and closets, eh? Be careful flinging that sort of brown stuff around. Its really difficult to wash it off your hands after picking it up. Cheers –
I’m still voting for Bronson. We need him as a final four survivor in the primary. Then, we have choices under the RCV which will help us conservatives. Think about that, please.
Bronson is the only conservative that has actually done something besides being a good mayor for Anchorage., he’s got life experience and does not fall into hysterical, emotional tirades.
I’m voting for the former fighter pilot.
100% accurate. Bronson is governor material. Let’s get him in there.
Republicans Leaders need to coach how the likely R voters should vote for their top Four if the voter doesn’t choose to exhaust their ballot after one choice.
Currently there is No core R leadership from the Anchorage Republican office.
From what I’m seeing Bernadette. Crum, Bronson, maybe Hughes or Heilala appear to be the R favorites among a larger number of R’s than all other R candidates who’s just be wasting our votes. After!!!! The Primary. Republican candidates and voters really need to get serious and rally behind ONE whether or not there is two or three R’s.
We did it for Nicholas Begich iii. He won the 51plus votes because R’s united.
We also united for Governor Dunleavy. He also won the 51plus vote securing the Governor seat.
One of the things I like about Dave is he never gave up fighting the woke left while at the same time he was quietly trying to fix a broken city in the background rather than worrying about tooting his own horn.
I have gotten to know him well over these last six months and I wouldn’t have joined him without finding him to be a humble man willing to learn from his mistakes and being tireless in his willingness to fight the people of the state.
No one else in the race running as a republican has had to stand up and take the level of responsibility, and face the heat that Dave has. No one else has had the executive level leadership experience that he has. I believe he is the best chance we have at getting a strong conservative Christian leader to reform our state.
“…….. He has a strong, loyal following of supporters who admire him for his no-holds-barred knife-and-razor-blade fight with the leftist Anchorage Assembly every second he was in office………”
President Abraham Lincoln famously said, “I can’t spare this man; he fights” when critics demanded he fire General Ulysses S. Grant during the American Civil War. When told that Grant was a drunk, he asked what brand of whiskey he preferred, and ordered a keg of it sent to all the rest of his generals.
You aren’t going to gain negotiating or dealing with liberal/leftists. You only lose. So fight. Hard. Dirty. Ugly. For keeps. That’s what they’re doing.
I won’t be voting for Bronson. Despite my distaste for the man, I’m voting for Walker. If there is anybody who can kill the PFD, it’s him, and that’s my #1 state issue. The lack of gas due to the murder of the Glenfarne pipeline will take care of itself, and soon. Cutting the power during the next -15 cold streak might wake a few morons up (too late).
Alex has delivered my view of Bronson better I could have. Bronson spent three years at war with the Anchorage Assembly. Bronson did not create a conservative majority to govern Anchorage. Bronson could not get a single conservative elected to the Assembly to block the routine Assembly veto overrides. He had no policy victories in three long years. Anchorage voters did not reelect Bronson for a second term.
Let’s learn from Bronson’s Anchorage failure and vote for a younger Conservative Gubernational candidate. You may vote for Bernadette Wilson. Adam Crum has my primary vote. Both have a forward looking positive Alaskan Agenda.
Randy,
Why would you blame Dave Bronson for the muck created by all the fags and far-left commies that sit on the Assembly? Do you really think that Bronson inspired the problems? Why didn’t you and your fellow conservatives help the guy out when all good men are being summoned? Bronson didn’t need that thankless job, but he tried anyhow. Rather than heaping all the blame on
Bronson, ask yourself what you could have done to help. Why do all the good men sit on the sidelines?
Maybe he’d have preferred to see Bronson get all dolled up, prance his way to the podium, toss his mane and yell at the Assembly? Or maybe he wanted to see Bronson organize a dance party outside chambers to protest their actions? Perhaps those are the leadership qualities Gimarc was looking for?
Probably. Bronson is real man. Not a sissy like the others guys on the Asdembly.
If he’s not leading the pack, why attack?
GO BRONSON!
This whole article is about looking in the rear view mirror and making up stuff that is real easy to say but not so easy to do, after the fact.
Yo, John. Precisely which parts did I make up? I’ll wait. Cheers –
How was Bronson supposed to control who the public chose to be on the ASSembly?? Hes not a King,or a Dictator he didn’t run a,great campaign against LaFailure, true enough. UT he was outspent by outsider money to a huge extent 907 initiativeand their giant dark money pile was all in for LaFailure
Yo, agimarc – It’s your view of hindsight and nothing more.
Alex and Dave should be president of their neighborhood community councils
Bronson and Crum are just a couple this is not their year to running for Governor.
But it’s a bit too early to be bashing the Republicans before the primary when it’s just important to make sure AKGOP has at least One sure candidate making the final four (even though All of them except one so that Republicans can rally behind that one candidate for securing the 51plus vote. )
I hope!!! Even if there are three or two Republicans making the final four that One has the good sense to leave for the good of the Red team. That they put this circus 🤡 people them so R voters aren’t split between two or three R’s.
RCV leaves no room for Egos. To win the voters need to learn Teamwork.
I have my favorite. But I’m not against Crum or Bronson making the final four. But if we had Bernadette, Crum, Bronson. Between the three. They need seriously think which two will drop out for the good of the team? So we don’t end up electing a True Democrat.
Bronson was a disaster as Mayor. He couldn’t handle the 9 liberals on the Assembly; he is certainly not ready for the 30+ liberals in the Legislature. As someone who saw his disaster in Anchorage up close, one of his top-level execs who was with him from the beginning to the end told me “Dave couldn’t lead a fly to $*&T.” The Assembly didn’t respect him, his staff didn’t respect him, he was a complete and utter failure as Mayor; he was over his head there, now let’s promote him to the state? That is crazy. Alex is right, if he makes the runoff the Republicans will lose. I was told that his running mate, who weighed in on this feed, (probably a very nice guy, but no experience and has no demonstrated idea how government actually runs) told people at the Republican Convention that if they make the top 4 they will not get out. That sums up the Bronson/Church ticket. Bad judgement, poor experience, and they absolutely don’t know what it takes to win a general election. Republicans can play this RCV game the smart way, or they can vote for a losing ticket; the outcome is Alaska will elect a Democrat for the first time in decades.
“……..Alaska will elect a Democrat for the first time in decades………..”
What are the possibilities of two Democrats making the final four in the primary this time, and how might that effect the November election?
Conservatives need at least two on the Final Four. RCV rules do not favor conservatives or Republicans. Preferably, Bronson and Bernadette at final 4. Lefties and Democrats are counting on Begich and JKT. It will be a November shootout.
Should whomever the second (or third) Republican gubernatorial candidate making the top 4 for Nov refuse to drop out, that candidate will join Sarah on the short list of Republicans who will never again be elected to anything in this state. Never forget that Sarah had her fingerprints on Ted Stevens loss in 2008, Bill Walker in 2014 and Mary Peltola in 2022. Republicans helping elect democrats is a bad lifestyle choice for success in future campaigns (and yes, I remember your contribution from 2017, Judy). Cheers –
101……cheap shot on Bronson. He was excellent considering the managerie and gallery of homosexuals and weird assortment of commies he had to work with on the Assembly. You sound like you probably roll well with those kinds. Bronson is a steady hand and will make a great governor.
Bronson had no municipal government experience. He saw his role as public service. Oh how quaint and noble. The assembly was and is run by Democrats who use government as a career path that is hostile to public service.
The Democrats have a superior battle plan for electing people who are 100% loyal to their party. Republicans are not good at team ball. The upcoming election will not be won by Republicans. I’d like to be wrong about pretty much everything.
Agree with you. I wish had more hope in today’s AkGOP and its voting members. They need to learn maturity for developing team skills.
For many of the comments here in Alaska Story still arguing for they just need two Republicans make it to the final four and other non sense ideas shows Republicans still don’t get it. The system is rigged against the AKGOP’s system of governance. They need one whether that is Bernadette, Crum, Bronson, Hughes or Heilala. If they have to settle on the one out of two to pick the one appealing best to both urban Alaskans and the one better received by rural Alaskans from the white Alaskans living out in the forests to the Alaska Natives.
Republicans can’t afford two or three R candidates after the primary for one Alaska is not Florida where majority will elect a Republican no matter how many R’s are running. Two AkDemocrats have a plan for electing their candidates to district offices because the AkGOP have no plan and no real leadership from its Anchorage Republican office and its leaders are just doing whatever feels good while each leader’s supporters follow their shepherding leader instead of following the core team’s directions toward a team’s ultimate goal.
My vote will be for Mr. Bronson. No one else.
If Bronson doesn’t make the final four. Be humble and willing to get behind the Republican to take the group to November. Wilson got my number one vote, then I’ll put Crum as two, Bronson as three. before exhausting my ballot I may put Hughes or Heilala as fourth choice whoever has the better odds between them.
But with the General election ballot. I’ll exhaust my ballot (again) after one pick.
But with the US Senate and US House I’ll exhaust that section after one pick because for Republicans we don’t have a choice. It’s Dan S Sullivan and Nicholas Begich iii.
That should be how the Governor’s race should be, we should be just voting for one to secure our Republican on the general election ballot.
I’d vote for Bronson. I’d vote for Wilson. I’d vote for Crum. Or any other conservative. FFS people, the most important thing is that we all get behind ONE. The democrats have but two serious candidates, Begich and JKT. The most awful scenario would be to end up with one of those and three of ours. Time to wake TF up and not end up with another Peltola situation.