By ALEX GIMARC
Aug. 27, 2026 – Former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson and his running mate released a video announcing his decision to remain in the race for Governor.
The decision is at odds with his statement to District 8 that he would drop out of the race if he did not get the most votes as a Republican candidate, moving him smartly into the old prosecutor question: Were you lying then, or are you lying now?
For a ticket touting itself as the “moral choice,” this is quite the opening bid for November.
From here, it looks like Bronson is about to split the Republican vote for governor, electing the first Democrat since Tony Knowles (though Bill Walker, who ran as an indy in 2014 certainly governed as a Democrat, complete with Democrat Bruce Botelho running his nominations / appointments operation).
Bronson answers the question: He will stay in governor’s race despite written pledge
Bronson pledges to leave governor’s race: Document drop
In doing do, Bronson is about to join Sarah Palin in Alaskan electoral infamy. After being elected with incredible hope in 2006, Palin has befouled her brand to the point where she would be hard pressed to get elected as landfill manager. Bronson just smartly stepped off on the same path.
Never forget that Palin has her fingerprints on installing three Democrats into statewide office. First was her demand that Ted Stevens resign following his conviction on several felony charges Oct 2008. This managed to elect Mark Begich to the US Senate.
Stevens’ convictions were set aside Feb 2009 on the basis of prosecutorial misconduct. Strike one.
In 2014, she supported Bill Walker for governor over her former LtGov and sitting Governor, Sean Parnell. Walker was elected. Strike two.
Her final claim to fame was running for US Congress in a three-way race between Peltola, Nick Begich. She filed on the last day possible during the special election that installed Peltola and then she ran in the primary and general, which gave Peltola an entire term in the House.
In both of these, Palin came in second, though the general election was decided by the RCV sort.
As an aside, this was the election that Republicans learned the hard lesson that “Rank the Red” doesn’t work. Strike three.
It looks like Bronson is about to channel his inner Palin, doing his level best to elect another Democrat statewide.
Worse, he signed a District 8 pledge to drop out if he “… garnered less a majority of votes and when your competition with another Republican will split the vote.”
All you Bronson voters need to ask yourself why support a candidate who will tell you whatever he (or she) thinks you want to hear and do something else entirely? This is apparently a “moral” position. Yeah, right.
There is still time for Republicans who came in second or worse to drop out of the various races. Failure to do so closely followed by election of Democrats in those races will help elect democrats and make you just as politically toxic as Sarah Palin, a status desperately being sought by Dave Bronson.
Intentionally electing Democrats is not the best choice for self-described conservatives.
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.
41 thoughts on “Alex Gimarc: Dave Bronson becomes Sarah Palin”
Look, its pretty simple. Dave Bronson is hurt and wounded. He thought he had it in the bag, but a little spunky gal beat him fair and clean. When Dave stops crying and mans-up he will agree that he becomes the spoiler if Democrats win the governorship this fall. Dave’s beligerancy and inability to acknowledge defeat will hurt Alaska in the end. The Anchorage Assembly beat up Dave pretty well and he is a resentful man. Unfortunately, his pride gets in the way of common sense. And he cannot get over the fact that a woman, yes a tiny woman, kicked him in the pants. I’ll now be voting for Bernadette.
Dave Bronson will not be “the spoiler” in this race. Bernadette’s own selfish behaviors, extremely poor judgement, and repeated bad decisions will do her in. She can’t win! My guess is that her best friend Suzanne Downing will not print this truth.
This is EXACTLY where the Democrats want us……in a fight over who has the high ground in the Republican Party. The voters have the high ground. THEY made the choice, and it’s NOT Dave Bronson. It’s hard for old white guys to accept this truth. But it’s real. No wonder the lib, leftist Democrat women always go after the old white guys. They are easy pickings with their sometimes sexist behaviors. I’m voting Bernadette. That’s all.
You have lost your mind! She was the top vote-getter. We know what happens when we have more than one we have to choose from with ranked choice of voting. It is super egotistical and arrogant with what Bronson is doing. He will go down in history as the destruction for Alaska.
Fact is Bernedette Wilson can’t be a spoiler. She was the FIRST Republican to enter the gubnatorial race before anyone else signed up. Before her was Matt Clamon and Tom Begich. Just like Nicholas Begich iii entered his first run for US Congress before Sarah Palin and Nicholas was accused of being the spoiler even though Palin came late into the race.
Having JKT has the number one candidate of all four showing it’ll be much stronger of a chance if Bernedette is running against JKT because of their younger ages, similar political experiences. Appearances, stamina and energy level, and similar public communication style.
Governor’s race is not an Anchorage mayor Race plus Bronson doesn’t have 2020-2022 Covid years to give him the edge over a younger more experienced political character in Dunbar. Bronson and his choice of administration leaders made A lot of mistakes that Bernedette does have against her.
Alaska and Alaskans are fixing to learn a very HARD lesson.
Anchorage is in the same process, many are simply departing.
All of the GOP candidates, except for BW, should exit the ballot.
But, egos and narcissism won’t allow this common sense tactic.
“…….many are simply departing………”
Not enough, and for those leaving Anchorage, Wasilla isn’t far enough.
The people who are moving will find the same troubles are developed or developing in every state. I want to leave Alaska. I been here my whole life and I wish I left at 21 or sooner. I want to leave and don’t want to. I do know we are really tired of Anchorage and just urban areas because of the drunks, mental illness here screaming and crying people on the streets hollering all hours of the day, the open use of drugs and alcohol and open nudity and vulgar behaviors that the Urban community’s inflicted by poor and ghetto leadership
You are correct that RCV didn’t work for Rs in the Palin, Begich, Peltola race. I would like to think that we have figured out how to rank the vote and why it’s essential this time around. Ideally, the second place R would not withdraw (it just elevates the next highest vote getter) but instead suspend their campaign and pledge support to the first place R. That hasn’t happened and now we need to ask our two candidates to do the right thing and inform their voters to rank the other R second so those votes don’t just die. No more trash talk between our candidates. Time to talk vision and policies that show why we are the better choice than the Democrats. The primary is over, both Rs are in it to win it but there will be a Democrat governor unless we RANK THE RED in November. That’s just reality.
Unification works better, Dan. Ranking the red did not work when we acquired Peltola in the US House race in 2022. Ranking the red is risky. 50%+1 should be examined as the best alternative,
especially if the Republicans can learn to practice more discipline like the Democrats. RCV was applied in Alaska, and meant to work exactly as it’s being exercised now…..in favor of the Democrats. We have to be smarter than them.
“We have to be smarter than them”
Sadly, this is why they call us the Stupid Party. Cheers –
Why is it that the only race in the state this year that there are calls (or demands) to rank the red is the governor’s? Everything else is a bullet vote. We demonstrated that it doesn’t work in 2022 twice with Peltola. More troubling, the democrats don’t seem to play the rank the blue game and seem to win elections from time to time. Cheers-
You and I both know the Democrats Unite. They are very good at uniting even when they move into a new community where they are a minority and they are 54votes out of 800votesvoting for the Republican.
Alaskan Republicans need to recognize they are Okay for being a Herd. Other state’s Red districts and Red states vote like a herd which is why their counties and states Stay Red
So let’s say that Dave decides to suspend his campaign after all and steps away. That still leaves Treg and Click running as Republicans and possible spoilers, unless they too decide to suspend their campaigns in order to leave one Republican in the race. So far neither has indicated they plan to suspend their campaigns so it still looks like the Republicans are getting ready to repeat their same past mistake. Hoping for a different outcome? You know what that’s called.
No. If campaigns are suspended after August 31, the names of the candidate winners from the Primary stay on the ballot. And that DOES NOT include Treg Taylor or Click Bishop.
If you like Trump then Treg has got to be your vote. He’s the most MAGA of the bunch.
Oh, wow. Treg loves America. Where’s your problem, Damon? Would you rather live in Canada? Cuba? China? Hope you move
Hey Julia: One of the weakest rebuttals is your Love it or Leave it claim. It shows your inability to think critically and with intelligence.
Attacking Dave Bronson won’t get the AKRepublicans ANY closer to maintaining the Governor’s office. No more that a few months ago attacking the frustrated Alaskans about declining salmon runs in the rivers.
The Right people on the Right need to have a good ol’ fashion private hospitable talk with him, Treg, Bishop, and Hughes about putting their future of being a Republican in Alaska head of their personal visions of Alaska for the good of maintaining the little power AKGOP does wield in the State of Alaska.
Dave Bronson the former mayor and fighter pilot would do better than Wilson in the general election with his experience as Anchorage mayor which has roughly half of Alaskas population, life experience and able to perform the duties of Alaska’s governor without getting overly emotional when dealing with people and tough situations.
Already answered this a couple weeks ago. Specifically: if Bronson couldn’t handle the likes of Chris Constant, Meg Zalatel and Felix Rivera as mayor, what makes you think he can handle Wielechowski, Giessel, Stutes and Stedman in the legislature? I’ll wait. Cheers –
“………what makes you think he can handle Wielechowski, Giessel, Stutes and Stedman in the legislature? I’ll wait………”
Thanks for waiting:
Nobody can. Alaska’s problems for the past 45 years can be completely explained by (#1) the Legislature, and (#2) the courts. The administration pretty much completes the corruption, or dances to the tune served, depending on its ideology.
You’re welcome!
I hate saying this but 3rd generation Alaskan person represents the middle Alaskans that Rep Kopp said about Alaskans wanting more “non political type candidates” or in reality they think Right type candidate are too partisan.
If Treg, bishop, Hughes agreed to support Bronson over Wilson, would they drop out? And Wilson sacrificially drop out to support Bronson?
For the good of the AKGOP attempt to maintain its relevancy?
At least Alex had the decency not to throw in a Dave-Sarah transition meme. Hard enough to un-see as it is.
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Recall this from four years ago: “Election observers had questions Mayor Bronson wants answers for irregularities in municipal election process”.
(https://mustreadalaska.com/election-observers-had-questions-mayor-bronson-wants-answers-for-irregularities-in-municipal-election-process/)
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Why bring it up? We still don’t know whether Bronson prevailed and why Bronson’s picking fights with Wilson instead of taking on the Establishment and unifying voters over this top election-integrity issue. Could the rather obvious scarcity of newsworthy information possibly have followed from some quiet quid pro quo understanding on the subject?
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Can’t seem to get straight answers on much of anything else in Alaska’s political scene, so we thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask.
Gimarc’s column failed to explain this: We ARE going to have Treg Taylor on the ballot. Kreiss-Tomkins is going to drop out and unite with Begich. Expect it, bank on it. Bronson is far-sighted enough to see what is happening. Even if Bronson stayed on the ballot and froze his campaign, thousands were still going to vote for him. See the Schultz example, now on the books, banking in with 10,000 votes. Bronson voters would and should put Wilson as their next choice. If Dave is eliminated, and there’s no Taylor on the ballot, BINGO! Wilson wins. But the true problem becomes, who do Taylor voters pick as their 2nd choice, after the Dems unite their ticket?
Bob says: “Gimarc’s column failed to explain this: We ARE going to have Treg Taylor on the ballot.”
Think of it as a science experiment, specifically who wants to be Sarah Palin? Who wants to help elect a democrat? We are about to see which Republican would take the Solomon test – divide the baby and kill it (stay in the race) or give the baby up (drop out and at least have a chance of a Republican winning). Between you and I, there are better role models than Sarah, and telling Dist 8 you will drop out and deciding not to do so is hardly a positive lifestyle or political choice. This isn’t Treg’s problem. It is Bronson’s. Cheers –
And if YOU do not follow the current election law and choose to rank Republicans then YOU are choosing to elect a Democrat. Does it make you feel good to be a tool for the Democrat Party?
Stop attacking Republicans and start attacking the opposing party. You are actively attempting to split the vote.
Here’s a fun question: Why is the only race this election cycle with calls to rank the red the governor’s on the Republican side?
Corollary question: Why don’t democrats play this little game and rank the blue?
If ranking the red is such a good thing, we ought to be doing it all the time. Yet we don’t. Perhaps we learned that lesson in 2022. Twice. With Peltola. Perhaps some on Our Side forgot or didn’t pay attention.
The only people splitting the vote are people who didn’t come in first and refuse to drop out after promising to do so in writing. Cheers –
Easy answers to ridiculous questions.
1. Democrats will rank their choices if they don’t force them out first, as witnessed numerous. Democrats don’t believe in democracy, they don’t believe in choice, they believe in picking one approved candidate and denying people the right to elect their representatives…see Kamala Harris, Peltola, Bill Hill, etc., etc., etc. If you believe the some things as Democrats then feel free to rank the ones who are on the ballot.
2. See the answer to 1.
Obviously we didn’t learn the lesson, or we wouldn’t be having this conversation. Rank voting is stupid, it’s also how our current elections are held…at least until it is repealed. If Bronson (who isn’t in my top four choices) drops out then who replaces him, because by law someone will replace him if he drops out before the 31st. When you can honestly answer that question you will see how destructive what you are saying is.
Steve-O – As of this writing, Tom Begich, the second vote getter on the democrat side just dropped out. Was it forced or voluntary? Nice timing of your comment, though. Cheers –
“……… Kreiss-Tomkins is going to drop out and unite with Begich. Expect it, bank on it……….”
Maybe. Maybe not. We’ll see. If you’re correct, I’ll be pleased to politically bank with you more. If incorrect, you lose again, Bob .
Alex, your Sarah comparison doesn’t work. While it’s true that Sarah literally got Mary elected, she didn’t have a whole line of other Rs running behind her. This situation is substantially more complicated. Bronson could stay in and “suspend”, as some have speculated. Maybe that’s his plan. How does the situation change if he drops before 8/31? Are you figuring the rest will follow his lead? If both JKT and Tom stay in, it would end up JKT, Tom, Treg and Click. If JKT and Tom consolidate, they will be against Treg, Click and Adam. I’m all for rallying around Bernadette, but pressure should be on all others to drop, not just Dave.
Correction. JKT, Tom, Bernadette and Treg, consolidated against Bernadette, Treg and Click. Sheesh, hard to keep track of!
Frankly, this article is the problem and if followed will lead to a Democrat sweep of Alaska. It is mind boggling how some can be so possessed with destroying any chance Republicans have that they choose to attack other Republicans is absurd. I would have thought Alex Gimarc would have known this by now.
You can’t claim that the circular firing squad causes the problem when you are the circular firing squad.
Stop attacking Republicans, idiots, attack the opposition.
This is beyond absurd at this point, it’s almost like you work for the opposition.
All Bronson needs to do is what he promised Dist 8 to do. In Writing. Before the primary. Not aware of any other candidate who made similar promises. Cheers –
Didn’t Bernadette make the same promise?
You might be right, though she did come in first among Republicans and as such is not breaking promises. Cheers –
Republicans attack other Republicans because they hate them as much as they hate Democrats. It’s a personality flaw.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/borderline-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20370237
“……..First was her demand that Ted Stevens resign following his conviction on several felony charges Oct 2008. This managed to elect Mark Begich to the US Senate……….”
Excuse me, but Begich was elected through the antics of Andrew Weissmann and his cabal of corrupt federal; prosecutors with a false conviction of corruption just days before the election, not Palin’s call for him to resign. She didn’t convict him. Weissmann did. And considering the fact that he later served with the Mueller cabal in the Trump persecutions, despite Judge Sullivan’s condemnation over the Steven’s mistrial, proves that the tactic can work repeatedly.
P.S,: Corrupt journalism is as dirty as corrupt political leadership.
Completely agree with the lawlessness of the Stevens prosecution. Still, Ted only lost by 3,000 despite his conviction. Sarah could have kept her fat mouth shut and allowed the legal system to play out. Instead, she played the Righteousness card, discarding Ted like so many soiled diapers, flipping what was at the time a very close election. Sarah should have kept her mouth shut rather than preening for a fawning media. Still, my point remains, her grubby little fingerprints were on electing a democrat to statewide office, the first of three. Who’s next?
We need a Republican governor, but Bernadette Wilson is not the right person for the job. IF she wants to be a leader and govern over a state-wide population and government, she should do so *only* after starting out leading a local community council or as the Anchorage mayor. Unless we work at her family garbage company, voters know nothing about her leadership ability, style, or skills (if any). Regarding even small scale budgeting problems at the garbage company, we must recognize her total and complete incompetence. Finally, selecting lazy Mike Shower as her running mate causes me to question how she would populate the state commissioners; her choices would not be good. Leading Alaska at these crossroads is a vitally important job and Bernadette is not up to the tasks. To sum this up: Bernadette is not ready for prime time!