By SUZANNE DOWNING
Aug. 26, 2026 – Former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson has answered the question posed by The Alaska Story earlier Wednesday: He will not withdraw from the race for governor.
In a video statement released Wednesday, Bronson made it clear that he intends to remain on the November ballot, even though Bernadette Wilson finished ahead of him in the Republican field during Alaska’s Aug. 18 primary.
That decision puts Bronson in direct conflict with a commitment he initialed and signed during the Republican Party’s pre-primary vetting process.
As The Alaska Story reported earlier, Bronson completed a House District 8 candidate questionnaire on May 28. Among the positions he initialed was:
“Agreeing to drop out of a race where you have garnered less than a majority of votes and where your continued competition with another Republican will split the vote.”
Bronson received neither a majority of the Republican vote nor the most votes among Republican candidates.
The latest unofficial count showed Wilson and running mate Mike Shower with 15,063 votes, while Bronson and running mate Josh Church had 11,822. Wilson led Bronson by 3,241 votes and finished as the top Republican.
Bronson nevertheless finished fourth overall, behind Democrats Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins and Tom Begich and Republican Wilson. Under Alaska’s top-four primary system, that gives Bronson the ability to advance to the Nov. 3 general election and go back on his word.
Bronson’s statement makes clear that he intends to do just that.
The issue raised by his signed commitment was never whether Bronson could legally remain on the ballot. He can. The question was whether he would honor the position he represented to Republican district leaders before the primary.
Wilson made a similar commitment publicly when she entered the race, saying verbally she would withdraw and support another Republican if that candidate finished ahead of her in the primary. Wilson ultimately finished as the leading Republican, so she has not been called upon to fulfill that promise.
Bronson’s decision means Republicans could enter the ranked-choice general election with two candidates on the ballot, while Kreiss-Tomkins and Begich occupy the other two positions. Together, the two Democrats collected more than 41% of the primary vote.
Supporters of Bronson remaining in the race argue that his withdrawal could allow another Republican, most likely former Attorney General Treg Taylor, to move into fourth place. Others contend that keeping two Republicans in the final four gives conservative voters two candidates to rank.
But those strategic arguments do not erase the document Bronson signed. The language he initialed specifically addressed the danger of continued competition between Republicans splitting the vote.
The Alaska Division of Elections lists 5 pm Monday, Aug. 31, as the deadline for a general-election candidate to withdraw.
Bronson’s statement indicates he will let that deadline pass and continue his campaign.
The question posed Wednesday was whether Bronson would stand by his written pledge. The answer is no.
37 thoughts on “Bronson answers the question: He will stay in governor’s race despite written pledge”
Very ashamed of you, Dave. And I voted for you last week. When Republicans lose the governorship in November to the radical Democrats, YOU will be remembered as the SPOILER and ENABLER. You will be joining Bill Walker in the dungeon.
Same. When you are in fourth place, the only reason to break from the team is self-pride. I too, will now be voting for Bernadette.
… just wondering if you posted the same message when Nick did not drop out when Sara was the top Republican??
Republicans, again, internal fight;
Democrat’s pure delight.
Democrats on verge of storming;
Republicans take warning.
We’re quoting you on the radio tomorrow WilliamM
I’ll vote Bernadette and NOT rank anyone else. Taylor and all of the other single digit candidates also need to withdraw to clear the field or we’ll end up with a Democrat governor. If Bronson’s ego cost us the race, he should be banned to the RINO Murkowski-Giessel wing of the AK GOP.
Ranking is the only way to prevent a Democrat governor. Sad but true.
Ranking didn’t work for the two Peltola races for House that she won. Won’t work for the gubernatorial race either. There is a term for doing the same thing hoping for a different result – insanity. Cheers –
Ranking didn’t work with Peltola in 2022. It won’t work this time either. Cheers –
A LOT of voters did not rank.
It will require every conservative to rank – but don’t rank the blue.
The poofter and the songwriter will pull a trick just as the drop window closes.
Book it!
Dan, your logic doesn’t compute. Getting to 50% +1 is the name of the game. Ask Mike Dunleavy.
While I agree that candidates should honor their promises, it can’t simply be glossed over what would happen if Bronson dropped out by the deadline. Treg Taylor moves into fourth place and he didn’t pledge to drop out. Nor did the next candidate in line, Click Bishop. So the ideal scenario for Wilson/ Shower campaign would have been for Bronson to suspend his campaign (not withdraw) and urge supporters to support the primary winner. That’s not going to happen. The best path forward now would be for the two candidates to focus solely on their vision and policies and not waste time and resources attacking each other. Our collective goal is to defeat the Democrats, not batter each other. Both candidates need to tell their supporters to RANK THE RED.
This is why you were such a good mayor. The voice of reason.
I’m sure Dave is staying in to block the clicker.
Rank the red.
YES on 2!!
Click Bishop is already in dementia land. His place at the table is gone. Only his union lords are the remaining puppeteers and ventriloquists. But those union lords will now be backing Begich/JKT. Forgitabout Clicker.
Agree. The whole field would need to drop out and we know not all would. When Bronson made that pledge there was no way to foresee what happened. If he drops out another Republican, or not, over into the slot.
Good grief self editing failure. ‘Move’ not ‘over’in last sentence.
Under this pledge, every Republican candidate (including Bernadette) would need to drop out because no one got a majority… I hope Dave stays in. Bernadette may have strengths, but she is a weak candidate in the general. Everyone knows it. Give her a cabinet post!
Bernadette beat Bronson by several thousand votes. Do the math, bud.
Viceroy Dan us right.
https://alaskawatchman.com/2026/08/26/bronson-is-not-stepping-aside-in-bid-to-become-alaskas-next-governor/
Read some sources other than Bernadette’s bestie.
Don’t have to read anything except the tea leaves. Bronson will not be governor. And all he is doing now is pissing off more of his own people.
Republicans unifying their votes is their ONLY pathway to the governorship. Bronson’s ego has been busted by the likes of a tiny woman. Dave can’t handle that. And he’ll drag the entire party down with him. Such an arrogant fool.
I am so mad about this! I am totally going to vote for Wilson and Wilson alone! She’s a leader with integrity, who always fulfills her promises, someone who can always be counted on every time no matter what! Who’s with me?
All Republicans other than our front- runner must drop out.
Republicans should not dignify Ranked Choice Voting by participating in a process which is despised by most all Republicans.
Do you really think they would? Click Bishop?
Here is the statement made by the D-8 chairman Robert Wall. In fairness to Bronson, Wall’s statement should be made known. Bronson did NOT make this promise to the entire state. He made it to the D-8 GOP committee. And only the D-8 committee is qualified to know what “intent” meant, made to them in a 14-page questionnaire. They alone have every right to release Bronson, even if the strictest interpretation was sought. Here it is:
As Chairman of Alaska Republican Party District 8, I want to provide some clarity regarding the vetting document signed by Dave Bronson and the discussion surrounding his potential decision to remain in the race for Governor.
The language in our District 8 document states that a candidate agrees to withdraw from a race where they have “garnered less than a majority of votes and where your continued competition with another Republican will split the vote.”
No candidate received a majority of the vote in this primary. In fact, no candidate received even a quarter of the statewide republican vote. Under Alaska’s current top-four primary system, voters did not select a Republican nominee. Instead, the four highest vote-getters advance to the general election, regardless of party.
As things currently stand, Alaska voters have advanced two Republicans and two Democrats. There are so many candidates on the ballot that dropping out only advances another Republican candidate who had less support than Dave.
As Chairman, I believe it is important to clarify our intent rather than allow one sentence from our 14-page vetting document to be interpreted without its full context.
The question before Republicans now should be the same question that motivated this provision in the first place: Which candidate gives us the strongest opportunity to elect a Republican Governor in November?
That is the conversation Republicans should be having, and District 8 remains committed to Republican unity and victory in November.
— Robert Wall Chairman, Alaska Republican Party District 8″
Wilson and Bronson BOTH pledged to withdraw if they (1) get less than 50% of the GOP vote (both got less), and (2) their continued campaigning would split the GOP vote (they are both on the ballot and will surely split the GOP vote). Seems they’re both breaking the same pledge. But only Bronson gets slammed?
Good try Bob. But it was not enough. Bronson did not keep his word. And many people know it. I like and did respect him but this is a deal killer for me.
And now we know that Bronson’s word is worth. Zip. Zero. Nada, like all democrats which he claims not to be. Cheers –
I’m with Mayor Dan – best Mayor Anchorage has had in forever and, Go Eagles. I disliked RCV but until we’re successful in repealing it, we have to play the hand that’s dealt. It bad enough that there was a small army of repubs on the ticket as it lends itself to us snatching defeat from the hands of victory. I’ll predict that Tom Begich and JKT settle their differences – should they occur – and it’ll be all over but the cryin’ for our side. Again. Once this hits the general, all you’ll hear from the left is Bronson’s issue with the Assembly and MOA employees (thanks SO much Ms Dembosky) and, regarding Wilson, it’ll be she paid off her company’s fuel bill prior to filing and, that pesky Baby Daddy issue with left-winger, Chris Tuck.
If Bronson stays in the race, it becomes the Republican’s sure path to losing. Guaranteed. This is exactly why the Democrats floated RCV in the first place.
The governor’s race is now in motion for the Democrat’s victory, because the Republicans are not disciplined like the Democrats.
Julia, arithmetic and history show a Republican victory to be entirely possible. If voters are smart enough to rank the Republican candidates 1st and 2nd then one of them could easily win. It’s only a matter of getting more voters to rank Republican than Democrat. There are more conservative than communist voters in Alaska; they can win.
Bronson Walker Jr needs to bow out, if he chooses not to, then he’s most likely getting bought off by the dems.
Lying before your even in office. same old Bronson different postion. its obvious you care less about the people and more about your ego. I will not be ranking you at all. I will only rank the top runner Wilson. You will never get my vote or my family or friends.
[…] Bronson answers the question: He will stay in governor’s race despite written pledge […]
[…] The Alaska Story reported Wednesday that Bronson’s decision puts him in direct conflict with the commitment he made during the party’s pre-primary vetting process. […]
Well, if people don’t get over THEIR issues with the candidate’s faults, then you’ll have the worst of it in JKT. No human is perfect, though ONE was. The ONLY resolution is to make your first choice, be it Wilson or Bronson…AND SELECT THE OTHER FOR THE SECOND CHOICE.
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If you morons in the Republican party cannot see that this scenario is turning into the same BS that went down with NB3 and SP, than you deserve what you get. I’ve said it here before: You may not like the rules of the (RCV) game. But so long as you’re playing by those rules — AND YOU ARE!!! — RANK the damned conservatives in this race. And consider putting the song writer in the number 3 spot just to keep JKT out of that mansion in Juneau.
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When you change the rules of the game — Vote YES on 2 — then you can go back to some form of party primary, though what this state allows is BS, IMO. The parties should select candidates and the NPs and Undeclareds can vote their conscience it the general election.
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Okay, off my soapbox; back on the road.
RCV has caused this entire debate! This is what it was created to do. Shame on leftists for RCV and shame on anyone who wins because they have the most $$ for advertising and because they take full advantage of RCV…..won’t mention any names here, but her initials are: Bernadette Wilson.
So, why don’t you just cut to the chase and vote for JKT. What a 🫏