By SUZANNE DOWNING
Sept. 3, 2026 – Another national conservative heavyweight has endorsed Bernadette Wilson for governor of Alaska, adding to the growing list of Republican leaders lining up behind the top GOP vote-getter in the August primary.
US Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee announced her support for Wilson on Thursday, praising the Alaska businesswoman and longtime conservative activist as a leader who will fight for families and resource development.
“Bernadette Wilson is a strong conservative leader who will fight for Alaskans and unleash the state’s natural resources,” Blackburn said. “She’s a mother who knows what it means to put families first and stand up for the next generation. I’m happy to support Bernadette and look forward to seeing her deliver results for the people of Alaska.”
Wilson said she was grateful to receive the endorsement from Blackburn, whom she described as “the next governor of Tennessee.”
Blackburn won Tennessee’s Republican gubernatorial nomination in August and is the heavy favorite in the Nov. 3 general election. Tennessee has not elected a Democrat statewide since 2006, and President Donald Trump carried the state by nearly 30 percentage points in 2024.
Blackburn has represented Tennessee in the US Senate since 2019 after serving 16 years in the US House. She is known nationally as a staunch conservative and an ally of Trump, particularly on energy development, border security, government spending and opposition to Big Tech censorship.
Her support gives Wilson another significant national endorsement as Alaska Republicans begin consolidating around the general election.
Wilson has already been endorsed by Alaska Congressman Nick Begich, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and Florida Congressman Byron Donalds, among others. Donalds is also running for governor of Florida and has Trump’s endorsement.
Begich endorsed Wilson after she finished as the leading Republican in Alaska’s Aug. 18 top-four primary. Wilson received 16,456 votes, finishing ahead of every other of the 12 Republican candidate in the crowded field.
Breaking: Congressman Nick Begich endorses Bernadette Wilson, calls on Republicans to unite
She placed third overall behind Democrats Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins and Tom Begich. Tom Begich later suspended his campaign and endorsed Kreiss-Tomkins, while fourth-place Republican Dave Bronson remained on the final-four ranked-choice ballot, and Candi English moved into the fourth slot.
Wilson entered the governor’s race on May 13, 2025, making her one of the earliest candidates to begin campaigning for the open seat. Gov. Mike Dunleavy is barred by term limits from seeking a third consecutive term.
Since launching her campaign, Wilson has traveled extensively across Alaska and emphasized resource development, lower energy costs, public safety, education reform, and reducing the influence of government insiders.
The Blackburn endorsement further strengthens Wilson’s claim to being the consensus conservative candidate as Republicans work to prevent the fractured field of the primary from carrying over into November.
With the general election less than two months away, more endorsements appear to be rolling in, and the national Republican attention surrounding Wilson’s campaign is growing.
The Bronson-Church obsession with Bernadette Wilson continues behind the scenes: Document drop
Why President Trump should endorse Bernadette Wilson for governor of Alaska
Breaking: Trump White House alum Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders endorses Bernadette Wilson for governor
Dirty politics: Labor union money revealed behind ‘Conservative Alaska’ group that attacked Bernadette Wilson
Pollsmaxxing: Average puts Bernadette Wilson atop crowded Republican field, model gives her 84% chance in November
Forecast sweep: Sen. Dan Sullivan, Nick Begich and Bernadette Wilson all predicted to win Alaska’s three major races
19 thoughts on “National momentum builds: Sen. Marsha Blackburn endorses Bernadette Wilson for Alaska governor”
Remember Republican voters who are most consistent to vote for the Republican. Remember what is at stake having not only a Democrat Governor and Senate and House Majority in January 2027.
Please Rank all three. Wilson, Bronson, and English/Mrs Treg Taylor Despite one’s misgivings about each one and rank them out of order if you must. However. The sure way would be 80%-90% of us voting R would unify in order ranking Wilson One, Bronson 2, and English and Mrs Treg Taylor 3 and then exhaust the ballot. Because there ARE more registered Republicans in Alaska than Democrats.
This election is not about the individual voter and what they personally think. It’s about Freedom, Faith, and the Alaskans right to pursue happiness and financial prosperity for the individual and family.
To be more clear. Despite the shortcomings of Wilson, Bronson, and English/Mrs Treg Taylor who is representing Mr Treg Taylor either one of them as Governor would be far better for any of us Non Democrats than have a Democrat Governor.
Remember that when the hate or competition of the left gears up in October against any one of our Republican gubnatorial candidates. stand united behind ranking All three because we don’t have any other choices. It could be worse we could have Bishop, Heilala, and McGuire all who truly are Compromised Republicans and would work in team effort with AKDemocrats,
Our three really are not bad Republicans despite their personal shortcomings or their personal vendettas.
Remember the clown who drove around in his truck/plow during our big snow year a few years back and bashed on Bronsons plowing of the streets? That gentleman was Chris Tuck. You all hated him at the time because he bashed your mayor. Turns out the guy you all hated is the dad of the daughter of the lady you all want to become governor. Let that sink in! It should be a red flag. If she’s truly conservative I don’t think that would happen. I am ranking this way:
1)Bronson
2)Taylor’s wife and whoever else it is(total joke, shows you AK elections are a laughing stock and in disarray).
3)Bernadette. Questionable in her character and if she’s actually conservative but hopefully better than leftist crazy JKT.
Ho hum. Who cares? We are more concerned about the present and the future of this state, rather than making an issue of who Bernadette had a romantic interest with in the distant past. We’ve all got stories to tell about relationship mistakes, J. How about your mistakes? Please read up.
I think the most important question is: How do you feel about JKT and his policies? If you follow your plan, that’s exactly whom you’re going to end up with. And yes, it will be your fault.
M.John, you’re wrong. Explain to me how following my plan elects JKT. Sorry, but you don’t understand rank choice voting. I just stated above I will rank all 3. Order doesn’t matter. One gets eliminated and my vote goes to the next. Unless I don’t understand rank choice. Either you or me don’t understand it, I think it’s you but who knows.
J, You’re technically right, but you are not considering the fact that many, if not most voters will mark one single candidate. Doesn’t matter for JKT voters. The danger of encouraging other conservatives to “vote with their hearts” is that if Taylor voters do that, and don’t rank ( again, many won’t) their votes just disappear when Taylor is eliminated. Generally encouraging everyone to rally behind one candidate ( logically the frontrunner) would go a long way toward a conservative win. What are your thoughts about that?
J, interesting comment above, however since you failed to disclose your real name your comment becomes worthless.
See how that works?
For all I know, you are a commie operative, a JKT, supporter.
Wait! Is that you Jonathan?
Struck a nerve I see. Lots of people don’t put down their names, you only attack the ones who are scaring you! You all have worked day and night to hide Bernadette’s personal life, knowing full well that if the truth comes out her odds of winning diminish greatly. I’ve already told you I am ranking the red, so you’re attacking me because you’re afraid of my message. You’re afraid what I am saying will negatively affect your sweetheart candidate. Get over yourself. If she wins I will support her and be glad JKT didn’t. Until then I will keep posting the truth about her personal life.
I bet Bronson gets more votes in the general election in all 4 rankings.
Either Wilson, Bronson, or English/Mr and Mrs Treg Taylor they’ll be better for Us Non democrats who believe in Freedom, Faith, and Financial prosperity for the individual and family than JKT and Democrats in the Governor’s office.
Unity behind one candidate would had been best but it would be unity ranking the three candidates in the order they came
Unity is relative to the individual who checks then boxes in voting . Bronson ticket is getting stronger and so is Taylor who has had a lot of shenanigans dumped on him. I’m so glad the Dunleavy Admin is out the door. Dunleavy the lying jerk will be gone!
Voting Bronson as well. The more they promote wilson the less I trust her.
Who cares response is the exact reason we are in the predicament we’re in. We are being spoon fed bad candidates who don’t really care about working class people. This goes for local all the way up to national elections. They don’t care about the people anymore.
J-
There has got to be something Good you can do to help the people who daily see your face where your behavior, speech, and actions give them Hope in there are people who still care by what you think is showing care to one another.
But. For this Governor’s race. We do have a chance (given to us by God) not to elect a Democrat. If we don’t focus on the personal character flaws and weakness and insecurities of each candidate.
If Democrats see Republicans are strangely uniting by majority by their three candidates (who are not Democrats despite any past associations with a Democrat because Alaska has a small population and the political circle is a small one) then the AKDemocrats in October will attack Harder and more viciously to splinter off votes so the majority won’t rank the red. Don’t be discouraged. It could always be worse we could have four democrats. JKT, Bishop, Heilala/Sumnar, and McGuire/Rasmussen and if that was the Governor’s list I wouldn’t even cast a vote for any Governor because it’ll be just voting for a Democrat.
Tina: don’t get your panties in a wrinkle! Everyone is entitled to their opinion in elections and all other things!!!
Jeez! Marsha Blackburn ” a national conservative heavyweight” and prolific insider trader on Wall Street! The embodiment of all that is wrong in Congress. Who the heck is vetting Wilson’s endorsements?
He, she or it with the most advertising dollars wins? That coupled with RCV should be the red flag for us surfs!
If anyone doesn’t see union money benefiting Wilson through Tuck, I’d encourage a closer look.
And when positions promised in an administration drive support, that’s a big problem too. I wonder what promises have been made to whom?
If Wilson wins, what does that mean for you, Suzanne? We will be watching. People other than you have me wondering about either their support or silence in regard to Wilson…
“The General” presented in Kenai where he told me specifically (after I asked if they’d pull out if there was another front runner) the Wilson was. “Ignorant” and by extension, I was too, about RCV. Unbelievable. But that’s Top Brass for you. Arrogant and insulting. The man didn’t have a clue how State agencies operate. That was clear. Go Wilson/Shower!!! They get how to reign in malfeasance and corruption within State government. They get it.