Breaking: Trump endorses Bernadette Wilson for Alaska governor, urges Republicans to unite behind her

By SUZANNE DOWNING

Note, this is a developing story and will be updated.

Oct. 13, 2026 — President Donald Trump endorsed Bernadette Wilson for governor of Alaska on Tuesday, posting his support on Truth Social shortly before his scheduled appearance at a rally in Wasilla this afternoon.

The endorsement came with a pointed rebuke of fellow Republican candidates Dave Bronson and Treg Taylor, whom Trump accused of dividing Republican support and weakening the party’s chances in November.

“Bernadette Wilson is outstanding. She will make a GREAT Governor,” Trump wrote.

He urged Republicans to consolidate behind Wilson, who finished ahead of both Bronson and Taylor in the Aug. 18 primary.

“Now is the time for all Republicans to unite behind Bernadette to ensure she has a tremendous Victory in November!” he wrote.

Trump’s announcement puts the president firmly behind Wilson three weeks before the Nov. 3 election and just days before early voting begins Oct. 19.

It also brings the dispute over Alaska’s divided Republican field directly into the presidential spotlight.

In his post, Trump said Bronson had sought his endorsement, but that he declined because Bronson had not finished as the leading Republican in the primary.

“Dave Bronson of Alaska begged me for my support and Endorsement, but I wouldn’t do it because he didn’t win the Primary and, therefore, wasn’t deserving of it,” Trump wrote.

The president said he subsequently asked Bronson to withdraw.

“I then asked him to get out of the Race, and he agreed!” Trump wrote.

According to Trump’s account, Bronson reversed course three days later without notifying him. Trump also singled out Taylor, describing him as a candidate he had never heard of.

Trump argued that Wilson has the strongest chance of winning and that her Republican opponents would take votes away from her.

Wilson was the top Republican finisher in Alaska’s open primary, rather than the overall winner. Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins finished first overall. Wilson, Bronson, Taylor and Kreiss-Tomkins are the four candidates on the November ballot, which will be decided through ranked-choice voting.

The endorsement follows Trump’s Oct. 8 criticism of Alaska’s election system and the prospect of three Republicans competing against one Democrat. At that time, he had not publicly endorsed a candidate for governor.

Tuesday’s announcement ended that uncertainty as Trump prepared to take the stage at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center in Wasilla for a rally supporting Sen. Dan Sullivan’s reelection.

This is a developing story and will be updated with remarks from the president’s Wasilla appearance.