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
