By SUZANNE DOWNING
Aug. 30, 2026 — Congressman Nick Begich has endorsed Bernadette Wilson for governor of Alaska, adding the state’s highest-ranking elected Republican in the US House to the growing list of party leaders rallying behind the top Republican finisher in the Aug. 18 primary.
Begich said he remained neutral during the crowded primary but had committed to supporting whichever Republican finished first.
“Alaska’s Republican gubernatorial primary included quality candidates, many of whom are personal friends and supporters,” Begich said Sunday. “While I provided thoughts and guidance to many Republican Gov and Lt. Gov candidates who reached out to me during the campaign, rather than weigh in on the primary, my commitment throughout the process to the candidates was that I would back the first place Republican finisher.”
Wilson emerged as the leading Republican, finishing third overall behind Democrats Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins and Tom Begich.
“Bernadette Wilson finished as the leading Republican in the primary,” the congressman said. “Consistent with that commitment, I am endorsing Wilson for Governor. Now is the time for Republicans to come together.”
The endorsement strengthens Wilson’s argument that Republicans should consolidate behind her and running mate Mike Shower rather than remain divided going into Alaska’s ranked-choice general election.
Begich, who just won his own primary resoundingly, pointed to Wilson’s positions on government spending, economic development and major infrastructure projects as reasons for his support.
“Wilson has championed smaller, more efficient government focused on jobs, education, and finishing the big projects our state needs, including the gasline, more roads and rail, and developing the new infrastructure required to keep Alaska’s economy growing,” he said.
“We need to continue unlocking energy development, keeping taxes in check, and delivering major investments across the state,” Begich continued. “Importantly, an aligned Republican team is best able to continue the tremendous federal momentum of the past 2 years, a time of significant generational wins for our state. That is the work that matters for Alaskans, and it requires unity in November.”
Begich urged the remaining Republican candidates to rally behind Wilson, but said he would still rank any Republicans who remain on the November ballot.
“While I believe other Republican candidates should rally behind Wilson to increase our chances of winning, I will rank any Republican who remains in the race on my ballot,” he said.
That distinction comes as Republicans debate whether former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson, who finished behind Wilson, should withdraw and allow the party to consolidate around its leading primary candidate. Bronson has said he intends to remain in the race.
Democrats, meanwhile, have moved rapidly to consolidate. Tom Begich, who finished second overall, announced Friday that he was suspending his campaign and endorsing Kreiss-Tomkins, the primary’s first-place finisher. Begich did not explicitly say in his announcement that he had withdrawn his name from the general election ballot.
Congressman Begich used his endorsement statement to criticize ranked-choice voting, noting that Democrats appear unwilling to rely on the ranking strategy they have promoted to Alaska voters.
“I am not a supporter of ranked choice voting, and apparently neither are Democrats after they consolidated gubernatorial candidacies,” he said. “RCV complicates elections and unnecessarily creates confusion among voters.”
Begich said Republicans nevertheless must operate under the current system for the November election.
“That said, it is the system Alaska will use in the 2026 general election, and we must currently work within it in order to keep Alaska’s recent momentum going strong,” he said. “My hope is that we can end RCV once and for all this November and restore a rational, timely, transparent, and common sense system again in Alaska.”
The endorsement gives Wilson a significant Alaska-based Republican backer following two prominent national endorsements. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, President Donald Trump’s former White House press secretary, endorsed Wilson on Saturday.
Florida Congressman Byron Donalds, a close Trump ally, endorsed Wilson earlier in the campaign.
One year ago, Gov. Dunleavy warned Republicans to rally behind the top vote-getter in 2026
22 thoughts on “Breaking: Congressman Nick Begich endorses Bernadette Wilson, calls on Republicans to unite”
Check in to the personal choices of Bernadette prior to voting for her. Vote your conscious. Not sure how politics can take a back seat to other choices in life. A quick google search may change your mind on who to vote for. It’s not normal for a conservative to be with a far left liberal in the personal life side of things. Just my opinion.
I know of only one perfect human and all of history.
.
Be pragmatic or play the fool.
Bronson for Governor. People who allow endorsements to sway their vote have the IQ of a rock.
That’s why we just love Nicholas. He’s his own man, yet he follows some of his uncle’s common sense.
Nicholas will now be the only permanent standard torch bearer for the Begich Family. NB1 would be so proud of his grandson, just like Mark and I are of our great nephew.
I forgot what Nick has done to prevent Trumps tariff war with Canada and the soaring fuel and grocery prices affecting Alaskans? When you are getting your fuel oil delivered this fall remember what has affected the economy in Alaska the most. Hint – tariffs and the needless war in Iran. Does anyone recall the chant – “I will cut electricity costs in half”!
LOL. Hey moron, your heros Obama and Biden halted oil and mining exploration in Alaska. The two most important resource activities YOU rely on in the 49th state. Trump and Begich are winners and will lead on while you and your fellow idiots are still trying to figure out grade school math and science. You are a dumbass.
Johnny. Slow down. Drink some water before commenting.
[…] Breaking: Congressman Nick Begich endorses Bernadette Wilson, calls on Republicans to unite […]
He endorsed her because he said he’d endorse the leading candidate.
-In other words, because he had to.
Hold the confetti, Betty.
He endorsed the leading candidate because he knows that’s how we’ll win. For your part, you may just as well select whichever individual would be your ideal governor and write that person in. If you don’t care who wins, then just go ahead and admit that you don’t care who wins. If you don’t vote for the candidate who actually has a chance of winning, you are not helping any conservative cause.
And being a man of his word unlike Bronson, he did. Bronson, more akin to Lisa, says something in the primary and does the opposite when the bill comes due
If Nick thought Bernadette was the best candidate for Governor, he would’ve endorsed her before the primary. It would’ve been perfectly natural, since she helped him win his bid for Congress.
However, if he thought another candidate was a better choice, he couldn’t very well endorse that person before the primary without making Bernadette look really bad.
Nick refrained from endorsing anyone before the primary because he knows what we all know: Bernadette is not fit for public office.
If you’re going to Google your Governor candidates as J says, searching by image will tell you more than you ever needed to know about one of them.
Integrity and self-respect matter, as does a clean profile that won’t lend oneself to the pressures of manipulation once in office.
As quoted above Begich said
“While I believe other Republican candidates should rally behind Wilson to increase our chances of winning, I will rank any Republican who remains in the race on my ballot,”
“I am not a supporter of ranked choice voting, and apparently neither are Democrats after they consolidated gubernatorial candidacies,”
“RCV complicates elections and unnecessarily creates confusion among voters.”
“That said, it is the system Alaska will use in the 2026 general election, and we must currently work within it in order to keep Alaska’s recent momentum going strong,”
“My hope is that we can end RCV once and for all this November and restore a rational, timely, transparent, and common sense system again in Alaska.”
This is what I’ve been saying, stop attacking other Republicans, support Republican candidates, follow our flawed systand vote to fix it.
Exactly. We must use the system installed by the outside influence to force their agenda on our state through the voting system and all the huge money flowing in from Act Blue as well as every other outside source behind the “JKT” Trojan Horse”.
The haters need to hang up their rants between Wilson Bronson and who ever else is is upgraded and rank all three otherwise their vote will be wasted on one choice in the first round of the rigged choice selection process. Considering the lack of faith in RCV it doesnt look promising in getting people to rank all three otherwise Alaska will end up with an outside funded puppet.
If US Sullivan is reelection and US House member Nicholas Begich is reelected all their future reelections plus any other Republican members chance to be elected as US Senator, US Congressman and Governor hangs on who is elected governor this year.
If JKT is elected, These democrats will use every power they have to shut down the AKGOP to where it’s nothing but a party on paper. For one they’ll undoubtedly have the power to Term US Senators and US House of Representative to increase their group members chances to get Democrats elected as our states US Delegation.
I’m not against Harder times for Alaska and America, it’s only experiencing a harder times are peoples character tested and strengthened by God’s Word or their pride and arrogance is Broken they are receptive to hearing and understanding God’s Word. I’d much rather see Republicans learn Humility and Unity before JKT is ever elected before harder times first wave of Democrat policies hit the most vulnerable, neglected, forgotten while the stronger are relocating to protect their wealth, family, and self preservation. But! I think Alaskans are more hard hearted and dense to need JKT and his big government Democrats and Republicans to intensify the struggle we are already experiencing before we finally learn humility and unity as Jesus teaches his Church.
Look closely at the photo. Blow it up and look who’s standing behind Nick Begich’s wife. She is all by herself as though she’s unwelcome. Maybe a party crasher?
North Pole Patriot, the face of Princess Lisa is better hidden from view. As the saying goes, ugly from the inside out. Thankfully Nick Begich took the spotlight away from her when the photo was taken.
Lisa knew she wasn’t welcome anywhere near Air Force One. She looks like a lost puppy.
I am still waiting for Bernadette to show how she is a strong candidate. I know that The Alaska Story loves her, I just don’t why, though it would be interesting to see her financial contributions to The Alaska Story.
[…] Breaking: Congressman Nick Begich endorses Bernadette Wilson, calls on Republicans to unite […]