By SUZANNE DOWNING
Aug. 28, 2026 – Anchorage singer-songwriter Tom Begich and running mate Julia Hnilicka suspended their campaign for governor Friday evening and endorsed Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, moving immediately to consolidate the Democratic side of the race rather than waiting until Monday’s withdrawal deadline.
“Today, Julia and I are suspending our campaign and endorsing Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins for Governor of Alaska,” Begich announced shortly after the Division of Elections released its final scheduled update of the primary count.
“More than 34,000 Alaskans put their trust in us, and thousands more gave their time, energy, and support to this campaign. We will never forget that,” he wrote. “What we built together does not end here. The work continues, and so does our commitment to building a better future, made in Alaska.”
With nearly every precinct reporting, Kreiss-Tomkins and running mate Zac Johnson finished first with 36,961 votes, or 22.52%. Begich and Hnilicka followed with 34,149 votes, or 20.80%.
Begich finished 2,812 votes behind Kreiss-Tomkins.
The timing was deliberate, even if Begich did not spell out the political calculation in his announcement.
He could have waited until 4:59 p.m. Monday, just before the deadline for candidates to withdraw from the November ballot. Instead, he acted as soon as the final major batch of votes had been counted Friday.
Begich had said on primary night that he wanted to wait until all the votes were counted before deciding whether one of the two Democrats should step aside. Friday’s update gave him that answer. Waiting through the weekend would not have changed the result, but it would have cost Democrats three valuable days of party unity.
By announcing Friday night, Begich gave Kreiss-Tomkins the entire weekend to absorb Tom Begich’s supporters, donors, campaign workers and endorsements. It also allows Democrats to begin the post-primary campaign with one candidate while Republicans remain divided among several competing factions.
The announcement came one day after the Alaska AFL-CIO endorsed Kreiss-Tomkins. The federation, which represents approximately 68,000 Alaska workers, had endorsed Republican Click Bishop before the primary but moved behind Kreiss-Tomkins after he emerged as the leading Democrat.
Tom Begich’s decision also avoids the appearance of a last-minute deal negotiated behind closed doors. Had he waited until the final minute Monday, speculation would have intensified over what Begich wanted in return and whether he was attempting to leverage his ballot position.
Instead, he conceded quickly, endorsed the candidate who finished ahead of him and handed Democrats the unified ticket they wanted.
There is one important technical distinction: Tom Begich said he was “suspending” his campaign. The Division of Elections requires a written withdrawal notice by the close of business Monday. Until that document is submitted and accepted, Begich remains one of the four candidates advancing from the primary. He may remain on the ballot to hold the spot, but it’s unlikely.
Once Tom Begich formally withdraws, Alaska’s top-four election law requires the Division of Elections to replace him with the fifth-place finisher.
That candidate is former Attorney General Treg Taylor, who received 11,924 votes, or 7.26%. Taylor finished behind fourth-place Dave Bronson, who received 13,349 votes, but ahead of Click Bishop, who received 11,509.
Taylor’s advancement could be complicated by the pending recommendation from Alaska Public Offices Commission staff that he be denied certification over his financial disclosure filing. That matter adds another layer of uncertainty to what the final November ballot will look like.
The political picture, however, is already becoming clear: Democrats entered the primary with two serious candidates, waited for the final count and then consolidated behind the winner. Kreiss-Tomkins now has Begich’s endorsement and the backing of the Alaska AFL-CIO.
Republicans, meanwhile, still face an unresolved fight involving top-vote-getter Bernadette Wilson, and also-rans Bronson, Taylor and Bishop. Wilson finished as the top Republican with 16,456 votes, or 10.02%, but Bronson has refused to withdraw and support her.
That contrast may be the most important reason Tom Begich acted Friday instead of waiting until Monday at 4:59 pm.
Democrats wanted the weekend’s political story to be about unity, and Tom Begich gave it to them.
37 thoughts on “Breaking: Tom Begich suspends campaign, endorses JKT, giving Democrats the weekend to unite”
Conservatives can’t get over themselves. JKT as governor along with this legislature spells the end of Alaska. What a sad, sad, sad day for a life long Alaskan conservative. 😢
Democrats are d.i.s.c.i.p.l.i.n.e.d.
.
That’s how they win elections. They watched Dave Bronson put on his baby tantrum because he got beat by a w.o.m.a.n. A very tiny woman. Bronson’s ego won’t accept that. So, the Democrats made their move, knowing well that a big clash is about to erupt with three Republican candidates on the ballot. This kind of tactical move wins elections. Republicans eat their own, rather than accept defeat. Very, very sick.
Disciplined like sheep. Who is there herd dog?
Very thoughtful move. Republicans are hosed.
Everyone is hosed if the DSA and their hyphenated candidate locks up the governors seat.
Not just hyphenated. LGBTQ’d. Indiana got Pete Buttegeige and Alaska gets JKT. When is this nonsense going to stop? Homosexuality is out of control and slithering into our lives, faster than ever.
Funny you mention Indiana. Ever look at Zac Johnson’s APOC filings? He’s sitting on a bunch of trust fund money out of Indiana.
The DSA is just now being open about the accelerated domestic communist revolution that has been ongoing at least since the mid-1960’s and actually begun in the 1930’s. Their new openness is foolishly premature. They might make gains in Alaska in a short term, but they’re going down in flames in the near future, Don’t pay much mind about the little man behind the curtain. His wizard is powerless.
Very strategic. Also they waited until the ballots were counted before the primary is certified.
If Bronson, Treg, Bishop, Hughes do not surprisingly withdraw Monday morning. Alaska will have a Democrat governor in January.
AKGOP you can’t have three republicans and one Democrat in a Governor’s race. Alaska is Not a Red state.
Once again proving that Democrats despise democracy. Kamala Harris was installed as a Presidental candidate, she hadn’t received a single vote in the eight years before she was chosen to sit atop the ticket. Mary Peltola was given a ballot free from other Democrats when the bear doctor was forced out. Matthew Shultz was forced out in favor of Bill Hill. Why do Democrats not want people to vote for them so badly?
Kamala Harris received 81.3 million votes in November 2020.
Alaska’s Republicans haven’t held a state-run primary or caucus to choose their nominee for President since 2016.
Thoughts?
In your world Kamala Harris became President in 2020?
No American has ever received more votes in any election ever than Kamala Harris received from America’s voters in November 2020. By contrast, Alaska’s Republicans haven’t held a state-run primary or caucus to choose their nominee for President since 2016.
Wow, I guess in your world Joe Biden doesn’t exist and wasn’t elected President…that’s definitely a different take for an election denier. Not one single vote was cast for Kamala Harris in 2020.
81.3 million American voters voted for Kamala Harris in November 2020. Look it up! Meanwhile, our brave soldiers serving overseas have been excluded from the Alaska GOP’s process for selecting a presidential nominee since August 2016. We gotta fix that!
I think you are confusing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, as well as how our elections work. The people no long vote for the Vice President and haven’tsince the ratificationof the 12th Amendment in 1804. Kamala Harris served as Joe Biden’s Vice President, Joe Biden was elected President.
Geez, Tom, one and done. I hope you got to squeeze Julie a few times on the side.
Why do you think I quit? JKT gives way better hugs and kisses.
I bet, Tom. Julie looks stone cold, miserable and like a lost little puppy. JKT is warm, fuzzy, and gay as hell. You’re actually lucky to get the hell outa there.
No kidding. Tom’s former running mate looks like a little porcelain doll, all made up to pleasure some
Democrat man. But I doubt it would be Tom. 😂
“I’m just a singer in a rock and roll band.”
But some of us knew that all along.
So if a campaign/candidacy is “suspended” instead of “withdrawn”, does that mean that the next highest vote getter does not advance to the Final Four? Can a “suspended” candidate endorse another candidate and still hold a spot on the ballot?
Us sourdoughs old enough to remember the Alaska gubernatorial election of 2022 know this answer.
Dunleavy won by over 50%. Finality. The only way to go.
Since 2021, every winning candidate for President, Vice President, US Senate, US Representative, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, State Senate, and State House in Alaska has won with over 50%. Like 129 elections and counting. Dunleavy is not special that way.
Yes, Dunleavy is special. He beat RCV on the Democrat’s terms. That is special.
That’s how RCV works – you keep looking at lower rankings until someone gets over 50%. How many of the people you listed got over 50% in the first round? Thats why we need to rank all the reds (and even write someone in!) until the scam that is RCV is repealed.
Alaskans, do you want a limp wristed, hyphenated double last name, sexually deviant marxist as guv? Literally anyone else would be better. How about we all say no.
Alaska lefty Democrats do. Gay is the way.
Get ready for the big increases in spending and your taxes after the election if the current primary front-runner is elected. No accountability for schools, just spend, spend, spend on programs. PFD will be gone.
Us Sourdoughs will also recall 1986 & 1990. But try being realistic. How do you keep an endless number of conservatives from running? It’s a free country, so you can’t. If Bronson drops out, Taylor moves up. Or, Bronson holds his position and endorses Wilson, but Begich drops out and you still get Taylor. Bronson does not detest Wilson because she is a woman. It’s because her personal, political and business baggage are seriously flawed and have not been brought clearly to light. The Dems are waiting for the Final Round before THEY do the job that this outlet has suppressed, rather than encouraging Wilson to own it and move forward. It’s not just per personal life, but her failures in politics and business. Yet, she would be preferrable to ANY Democrat, of course! What the former Mayor is doing is trying to keep a mature choice available. Wilson’s supporters would do well to rank Bronson 2nd, and nothing will prevent Bronson (or Taylor’s) supporters from ranking Wilson as their 2nd choice. We all hate the system, but the idea that all Republican candidates might withdraw is about as realistic as any imagined fantasy.
Well reasoned, Mr. Bird. I’m coming around to your thinking.
No! We have to keep the faith! RCV is the devil’s playground! Just vote for one!
[…] Breaking: Tom Begich suspends campaign, endorses JKT, giving Democrats the weekend to unite […]
[…] Breaking: Tom Begich suspends campaign, endorses JKT, giving Democrats the weekend to unite […]
Hope the Democrats have a very GAY weekend. Lots of trysts, hook-ups and anonymous encounters. All GAY, of course.
Wouldn’t all of the republicans need to drop out in order to not split the republican vote? Otherwise, another republican would be promoted. And then another. And then another.
Furthermore, Bernadette could also drop out, if her goal is really for a republican to win. Wasn’t the language that if a candidate didn’t receive a majority of the vote and staying in the race would split the vote? Since no republican beat the others by a landslide, doesn’t that language apply to her as well?
I find it interesting that Suzanne is pushing hard for people to be angry at Bronson for not dropping out of the Alaska Governor race and is pushing Bernadette Wilson hard. Bernadette was one of the originators of the second try to repeal Alaska’s Ranked Choice Voting, so she should be knowledgeable on how RCV works…right? Don’t you think she’d correct her buddy Suzanne on how RCV works, instead of allowing Suzanne to be constantly putting out misinformation about how RCV works?
For your information:
RCV doesn’t split the vote – it carries it to the next upper choice that you ranked. I’ll use the governor race as an example:
First choice: Bronson
Second choice: Wilson
Third choice: whatever Republican got moved up after Begich had suspended (dropped out?) of the race.
Other candidate is the democrat.
As the initial votes are counted, the candidate with the least amount of votes at the end of round one is removed (my third choice) and those votes from that candidate are applied to Wilson’s count.
Next round of counts begin. If Wilson does not get as many votes as Bronson, then Wilson is removed from the race and all of her votes go to Bronson and increases his votes from his original count.
Bronson’s votes would be compared with the democrat’s counts to see who won the race. Hopefully, Bronson the Republican won, in part thanks to the vote being carried from the third candidate, through the second candidate and added to Bronson’s count.