By SUZANNE DOWNING
Feb. 18, 2026 – Two candidates from opposite parties –Democrat Tom Begich and Republican Click Bishop — have filed year-start campaign finance reports that highlight an emerging dynamic in Alaska’s 2026 governor’s race: A shared political lane built around organized labor, mega-donors, and an establishment-friendly style of campaigning.
Begich, a former state senator and Anchorage singer-songwriter, reported $347,805 raised and $132,849 spent in his year-start filing with the Alaska Public Offices Commission.
Self-funding emerges as theme in governor’s race
Bishop, a former Fairbanks senator and longtime Operating Engineers leader, reported $283,605 raised and $163,347 spent, reflecting his long-standing identity as a “union-style Republican” with deep ties to the building trades.
While they come from different parties, both candidates are drawing support from donor networks that often overlap in Alaska politics: labor institutions, high-dollar contributors, and Murkowski voters.
Begich’s report includes support from some of Alaska’s most prolific progressive donors, including Justin Weaver, a self-employed private asset manager who has become a major financial force in Democratic politics.
In 2024 alone, Weaver donated more than $120,000 to progressive candidates, including a wide range of Alaska political figures. A partial list of recipients includes:
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Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance
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Former legislators Maxine Dibert and Ted Eischeid
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Rep. Calvin Schrage
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Former Rep. Cliff Groh
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Rep. Jesse Bjorkman
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Former Sen. Walter Featherly
Weaver’s presence in Begich’s donor circle signals continued backing from institutional progressive networks, even as the Democratic field grows more competitive.
Begich also received support from Anchorage attorney Robin Brena, a longtime ally of former Gov. Bill Walker and a major donor in Alaska’s Democratic establishment.
Brena was also a sponsor of the failed efforts to repeal Alaska’s oil tax reform law SB 21, advocating instead for a return to the more progressive tax structure under ACES.
One of the most notable names in Begich’s report is Jennifer Pritzker of Chicago, part of the influential Pritzker family whose wealth traces back to the Hyatt Hotels empire. Thomas Pritzker resigned from being Hyatt’s executive chairman this month, citing regret over his association with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Some describe the family as increasingly “radioactive” due to these Epstein-related revelations.
Begich was initially viewed as the leading Democrat in the governor’s race, but the field has shifted dramatically.
Anchorage Sen. Matt Claman entered the race, and just after the filing deadline, former legislator Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins jumped in and announced he had raised $600,000 within 24 hours.
Sen. Claman reports $229,407 raised in his bid for governor
That late surge has made Begich’s path forward far more difficult, turning what once looked like a leadership role into a fight for survival.
Click Bishop’s filing reflects union-backed Republican identity
On the Republican side, Click Bishop’s year-start report shows a fundraising profile built around organized labor and institutional support rarely seen in GOP primaries.
Bishop’s donor list includes a steady stream of labor political action committees, many contributing at the maximum $1,000 level.
But his report also includes major checks from high-dollar individual donors, including:
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$25,000 from Anchorage industrialist Jim Jansen of Lynden
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$25,000 from Anchorage businessman John Ellsworth
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$15,000 from longtime Juneau donor Bill Corbus
Bishop’s campaign stands for a high-capacity donor base that blends labor-aligned committees with prominent business names.
As The Alaska Story has reported, fundraising in the governor’s race is beginning to separate serious financial operations from struggling campaigns.
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Republican Adam Crum has raised more than $347,000
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Democratic Sen. Matt Claman reported $229,407
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Former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson has raised more than $217,000
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Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom reported under $18,000
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Edna DeVries reported roughly $11,000
With 17 declared candidates, Alaska’s gubernatorial race is rapidly taking shape and the year-start filings reveal that both Begich and Bishop are in a similar political lane: Labor-friendly and mega donor
9 thoughts on “Begich and Bishop filings show ‘liberal lane’ forming in Alaska governor’s race”
Click Bishop is a fake Republican. He is a Democrat union-backed candidate who will do whatever his union bosses tell him to do. He is probably the least educated candidate in the growing field of governor hopefuls. His Commissioner of Labor status was borne out of his friendship with Todd Palin, who recommended Bishop to his wife when she became governor. His state senator status was borne out of his Native wife’s connections to the Native community in his District. Click is liar and represents the Trojan Horse approach to gaining political office. He also has personal baggage that includes injuring a minor child in a boat race where he did not get parental consent from the child’s parents to be in the race. This should have been a multi-million dollar suit against Click. He never had the courage to apologize to the parents. Click is a fraud. Republicans better pay close attention and turn this schemer down.
Bishop is a union candidate, loyal to his union bosses. A left-wing stooge and lacky, beholden to the unions. And DUMB!
Click
Pick
Stick
Flick
Ick
Ick
Pr*ck.
Click, clack clunk
He’s too old. Looks and sounds like an old man with beginning Alzheimer’s.
I was thinking the same thing, Sarah. He looks like an old man. Maybe he thinks he’s the liberal version of Joe Vogler, with the string tie and goofy hat, but without the brains.
He does have the right good ol boy temperament to get things done – sadly he is too controlled by unions and deep state politicians – I think he would increase the size and scope of state government and bankrupt us all. He recently said that he would not try to reduce state spending and that he was against repealing rank choice voting.
Republicans are such idiots for entertaining Click Bishop’s candidacy. After years in the Senate, he proved that he needed smarter Senators to constantly guide him. He’s a Democrat. And he follows orders from his union lords. Any Republican who supports Click Bishop has a miniature brain.