By SUZANNE DOWNING
Aug. 28, 2026 – Republican district organizations are beginning to close ranks behind the top vote-getters from Alaska’s primary election, but not every candidate is willing to step aside.
The Alaska Republican Party’s District 13 committee met Thursday evening and passed a resolution supporting Bernadette Wilson and Mike Shower for governor and lieutenant governor. Wilson and Shower received more votes than any other Republican gubernatorial ticket in the Aug. 18 primary. Of the 12 Republican candidates, Wilson-Shower received over 20% of the vote.
The resolution, signed by District 13 Chair Cheri Voiles and Secretary Carolyn Overstreet, said the primary results should “carry real meaning” and express the will of Republican voters.
District 13 congratulated Wilson and Shower for leading the Republican field and called on other Republican districts to “honor and show confidence in the vote of the Republican majority across the state of Alaska.”
The resolution also said Wilson and Shower had followed appropriate party protocol and remained dedicated to promoting conservative Republican values.
A similar effort to consolidate the Republican vote is underway in Eagle River’s House District 23, where the local Republican committee asked candidate Nick Capozzi to withdraw and clear the way for incumbent Rep. Jamie Allard.
Capozzi responded on social media that he will not withdraw. His goal is to elect recently registered Republican Ruby Jones, who is a decoy candidate for the Democrats to peel Republican votes from Allard.
Capozzi’s refusal echoes Dave Bronson’s decision to remain in the governor’s race despite finishing behind Wilson in the Republican field.
Bronson had signed and initialed a District 8 Republican vetting document agreeing to drop out if he received less than a majority and his continued candidacy would split the Republican vote. But after finishing fourth overall and second among Republicans, Bronson announced that he would remain on the November ballot.
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.
While Republicans struggle to consolidate their side of the ballot, Democrats may be preparing to do exactly that in the governor’s race.
Alexis Johnson, a top member of the Bronson campaign, told District 23 Republicans Thursday night that she has learned that Democrat Tom Begich would withdraw from the governor’s race Friday and clear the way for Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, commonly known as JKT. JKT was the top vote-getter in the primary, Tom Begich was second.
The Alaska Landmine has reported the same expected development. The Alaska Story has not independently confirmed that Tom Begich plans to withdraw, and neither Tom Begich nor his campaign had made a public announcement as of publication.
If Tom Begich withdraws, Democrats would have one candidate around whom to consolidate while Republicans would still have Wilson and Bronson competing for conservative voters under ranked-choice voting and Treg Taylor, another Republican, moving into the fourth slot.
Friday is the deadline for the Division of Elections to receive qualifying absentee ballots mailed from within the United States or from overseas. Election officials are expected to add the remaining eligible ballots to the count and release the final unofficial primary results.
The Division is scheduled to certify the primary Monday, Aug. 31. Candidates who qualified for the final four have until the close of business that day to submit a written withdrawal from the general election.
Several candidates have already withdrawn or announced that they are stepping aside to avoid splitting support in November. The Alaska Story reported Thursday on candidates including Matt Schultz, Doyle Holmes, Mike Alexander, Donna Anthony and Sharon Jackson, who moved to consolidate their respective races.
The final decisions from Begich, Bronson, Capozzi and other candidates must come by Monday. After that, the November ballot, and the political divisions it reflects, will be set.
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One thought on “District Republicans rally behind Wilson-Shower ticket as pressure builds on candidates to withdraw”
If Begich drops out wouldn’t then someone else, a Republican, from the remaining field be moved up? If all the republicans except Wilson drop out that would be good but Bishop is the wild card it seems. Albeit if Bishop were moved up he may take more votes from the Democrat voters. Just thinking. We so need to get rid of RCV. What a mess.