By SUZANNE DOWNING
More than a year before Alaska Republicans emerged from the 2026 primary divided over the governor’s race, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy delivered a clear message to party leaders:
Once the primary was over, Republicans needed to unite behind the Republican who received the most votes, he said.
Dunleavy made the remarks at a Republican picnic in July 2025 attended by district leaders and political enthusiasts from Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley. This writer was present and reported at the time:
“Gov. Dunleavy, in his remarks, noted that after the primary in 2026, Republicans need to rally behind the top vote getter — and he was emphatic about that.”
The governor’s comments have taken on new relevance following the Aug. 18, 2026 primary.
Bernadette Wilson finished as the top Republican candidate for governor, earning about 10.2% of the overall vote, but over 20% of Republican vote — there were 12 Republican candidates. Dave Bronson finished behind her with about 8.2%, followed by Treg Taylor and Click Bishop, who is not considered a Republican in this race due to having a non-Republican running mate.
Wilson and running mate Mike Shower have urged Republicans to consolidate behind their ticket. Wilson has also received endorsements from prominent national Republicans, including Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who served as President Donald Trump’s White House press secretary, and Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, the Trump-endorsed frontrunner for governor of Florida.
Bronson, however, has his own plan. He says he’ll remain in the race, despite previously signing a Republican pledge indicating he would support the leading Republican after the primary.
On the Democratic side, the consolidation has already begun. Tom Begich, who finished second overall, announced Friday that he was suspending his campaign and endorsing primary winner Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. Begich did not say in his announcement whether he had formally withdrawn his name from the November ballot. Candidates have until Monday at 5 pm to do so.
That leaves Republicans facing precisely the situation Dunleavy warned about in July 2025.
Under Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system, multiple Republicans can advance to the general election and compete against one another for first-choice votes. Democrats appear determined to avoid that problem by concentrating their resources and support behind Kreiss-Tomkins.
Republicans now must decide whether to follow the advice Dunleavy delivered emphatically more than a year ago — or continue dividing their vote while Democrats consolidate theirs.
Dunleavy’s statement at the picnic was a direct warning about what Republicans would need to do after the primary.
The question now is whether Dunleavy and other party leaders will publicly stand behind the unity principle the governor laid out in 2025.
16 thoughts on “One year ago, Gov. Dunleavy warned Republicans to rally behind the top vote-getter in 2026”
And Ms Downing, AKRepublicans will not follow. Apparently for Janice representing the well spoken and articulate crowd of Republicans in her latest written rebuttal of you they think IF ONLY All Republicans rank the Republicans that they’ll get a Republican governor.
Problem is some Republicans will rank a 1,2,3 choice. The rest of the Republicans won’t rank after 1. Seeing all the angst from Bronson’s supporters. In their anger and retaliation and stubborness they likely won’t even rank Bernadette because of your’s and Alex’s letters calling for Bronson to step aside and not using the best choice of words to pressure him. However he wouldn’t be the only one who needed to step aside, so he shouldn’t been singled out. Treg, bishop, Hughes, and any other Republican moved up in the ballot after Hughes all need to respectfully leave for the good of the team.
Tom Begich did it. He showed Republicans how to get the job done and that unification is still better than ranking.
Is The Alaska Story going to become ADN 2.0 for the next two months, with relentless attacks on Bronson?
It worked for LaFrance. Maybe it can work for Bernadette?
Not Anymore,
Bronson a while back filed a flight plan in which he stated that at the go no go , or half way point he would turn back if he lacked the fuel to make it to his destination.
Apparently Bronson hit a humongous head wind in his flight for Governor. He hasn’t the pounds of fuel nor the support of the voters/ citizens to reach the Mansion on Calhoon street in Juneau.
Declare an emergency Capt Bronson, return to the closest safe airport immediately!
Pull out now and be a hero, continue on and you will be a zero. We, Alaska will be stuck with the weird bald headed kid from Yale.
Honestly, is that what you want?
Please sir, consider the rest of us 700,000 Alaskans.
Our entire family of voters (6) has decided to switch from Bronson to Bernadette Wilson. Bronson’s appeal has worn off.
We should still rank the Republican candidates just to try be on the safer side since they aren’t dropping out. Bernadette 1. Bronson 2, Treg three if Treg doesn’t get kicked out by APOC. If he does then Hughes 3.
And don’t rank JKT else he’ll get one’s vote.
I forgot Bishop comes before Highes. But Democrats may use their influence to get him to step aside if he ended up on the ballot in Treg’s place because he’ll likely peel votes from JKT.
Tina, I agree with you about Bishop taking votes from JKT. The union masters will likely have a meeting with Bishop if his name advances. Just like they likely did with Tom Begich.
Since no Republican coming after Bernadette number 1 place holder, the next game strategy is despite one’s Misgivings, disagreements, and even gossip they heard about Bernedette, Bronson, or Treg is remember they are Still Republicans. Under a Democratic form of governance they still suffer with the rest of us whether or not you are living pay check to paycheck.
We have to rank them if the Republicans won’t drop out except Bishop if he moves up because Treg gets kicked off the ballot since Bishop is no different than Tom Begich.
The message to voters should be Bernedette 1, Bronson 2, Treg three by majority of Republicans before exhaustion of ballot.
Ranking the red is more risky and higher gamble because most republicans will be split in the Order of rank between the three republicans. One Republican is Sure action beating the Democrat.
It seems to this voter that it is possible to support the Republican candidate who received the most jungle primary votes, and at the same time follow our current election law. There is no reason to attack other Republicans, just support the Republican candidate who received the most jungle primary votes. Without seeing what Governor Dunleavy actually said are we to infer that he was calling for all Republicans to drop out of the race or to support the Republican candidate who received the most jungle primary votes? Republicans should support fellow Republicans, instead of doing what Democrats do and force candidates to withdraw and limit the choice to a pre-approved candidate.
This would NOT be an issue if the Alaska Republican Party would have required a pledge from ALL candidates with a R, to drop out of the race and support the highest vote getter. Horrific Leadership.
The Alaska Story is laying out a strategy to win the Governor’s seat. Unfortunately with all the Press about Republicans, the Uber Radicle Political Consultant Homosexual from Sitka will gets a pass and will be our next Governor.
Obviously the Republican candidates ego’s cannot except a loss to someone they view as less than themselves. Without any evidence other than an opinion.
Side bar on Wilson. When the China Flu hit and public schools closed, private schools had a choice. The Catholic schools were directed to close from the Bishop. Wilson stood up and led the charge against the Bishop. It came down to this if you close the Catholic School we will go to a different Private School. Plus we want our tuition money back. Catholic Bishop backed down. Catholic schools remained open. A Single Mother standing up for ALL the kids. That is when I found respect for Wilson.
There are several other stories I could share. This has nothing to with Politics but a lot to do with what was the right thing to do.
Vote Yes on 2, that is the beginning of back to normal
Being Honest Ranking the red or Blue doesn’t work for political parties who want a particular candidate which what we saw Blue had Tom step aside , unless by some miracle 80% of the voters rank in the same order in unity Which is not likely among AKGOP voters because some Republicans Will be ranking JKT 1 with majority of Democrats to give him just the 50 plus 1 percent he needs while Republicans are split in order between three Republican candidates.
If you are a hardcore MAGA and idolize Donald Trump there is only one R you can vote for and that is Treg Taylor! He will make Alaska Great Again.
Democrats love your line of reasoning, Damon. Exactly what they want so they can put their little homosexual candidate into the governor’s mansion. Make Alaska Gay Active. MAGA.
Best comment here!
We need to see what happens after today whether Tom Begich’s name remains on the ballot.
And Dunleavy is relevant? How?