Treg Taylor tops field in seven-day campaign income report, much of it self-funding, and spends nearly $850,000 in race for governor

By THE ALASKA STORY

Aug. 12, 2026 – The final major campaign-finance reports before Alaska’s Aug. 18 primary show Treg Taylor bringing in the most money during the latest reporting period — and spending more than any other candidate for governor.

Republican Taylor and running mate Candice English reported $554,735.92 in income between July 18 and Aug. 8, according to the campaign’s seven-day report filed with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. The campaign spent $846,457 during the same three-week period and entered the final stretch with $101,934.12 in cash.

Much of the income was self-funding. Taylor gave $260,000 to his own campaign and English gave $100,000. Anchorage Dr. John Morris gave $110,000.

Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins reported the second-largest amount of income of all candidates for the period at $323,667.48. His campaign spent $516,215.32 and closed with $309,935.85 in cash — the largest available balance shown among the financial summaries reviewed.

But the Kreiss-Tomkins campaign also reported $440,909.20 in debt. After subtracting that debt from its cash, the report showed a deficit of $130,973.35. Across the entire campaign, Kreiss-Tomkins has reported more than $2.17 million in income and $1.86 million in expenditures.

Republican Bernadette Wilson and running mate Mike Shower placed third for the period, reporting $210,115.23 in income.

Removing the Treg Taylor/English self funding, Bernadette Wilson again raised the most of any Republican candidate.

Democrat Tom Begich and Julia Hnilicka reported $92,943.62 in new income but spent $461,704.30. Their campaign’s cash fell from $485,960.12 at the beginning of the period to $117,199.44 at its close. Begich’s campaign reported no debt.

Republican Adam Crum and Bob Craig reported $73,318.20 in income during the period, placing fifth in the field.

Republican Dave Bronson and Josh Church reported just $35,173.97 in income while spending $103,390.15. Their available cash fell from $103,005.78 to $34,789.60, with no debt reported.

The remaining campaigns reported much smaller amounts: Click Bishop raised $29,000; no-party Bill Walker and Randy Hoffbeck, $16,606.42; Republican Shelley Hughes and Blake Gettys, $15,900.45; Republican Matt Heilala, $7,282.13; Lesil McGuire and Sara Rasmussen, $5,450; and Republican Edna DeVries, no new income.

The reports provide the last broad financial snapshot before Primary Election Day.

They show not only what the campaigns took in, but how quickly they are spending it, how much cash remains and, in the itemized schedules, whether the money came from supporters or the candidates themselves.

The figures are listed by APOC as “total income reported.” That is a distinction from money raised exclusively from outside contributors. Campaign income can include money supplied or loaned by candidates and their running mates, along with other campaign receipts. Candidate self-funding should therefore be identified separately when comparing the depth of outside financial support.

The reports also reveal an aggressive burst of spending as candidates fought for a place among the top four finishers who will advance to the November general election. Taylor, Kreiss-Tomkins and Tom Begich alone reported approximately $1.82 million in combined spending during the 22-day reporting period.

Taylor’s report presents the most striking contrast: He led the field in current-period income, yet spent about $291,721 more than he brought in and finished with less cash than either Kreiss-Tomkins or Tom Begich.