Trump blasts Alaska’s ‘corrupt’ ranked-choice system, questions sanity of the three-Republican governor field

By SUZANNE DOWNING

Oct. 8, 2026 — President Donald Trump took aim Thursday at Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system and its fractured Republican field for governor, questioning why three Republicans are competing against a single Democrat less than a month before the election.

“What is that all about? How stupid are we to do this?” Trump wrote in a social media post.

He called Alaska’s election method the “Corrupt Ranked Choice System of Voting” and expressed hope that voters will repeal it in November.

The message arrives ahead of Trump’s Tuesday, Oct. 13 appearance in Wasilla, where he will rally support for US Sen. Dan Sullivan’s reelection.

Trump did not name the gubernatorial candidates, endorse one, or explicitly demand that anyone withdraw. Trump’s statement basically says it is stupid that Bronson and Taylor stayed in the race.

His criticism puts a presidential spotlight on the dispute dividing Alaska Republicans: Whether Dave Bronson and Treg Taylor should suspend their campaigns and support Bernadette Wilson, the leading Republican in public polling, fundraising, and momentum.

Democrats have already consolidated. Tom Begich withdrew after finishing second in the August primary and endorsed Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, leaving one Democrat facing three Republicans. Wilson has urged her Republican rivals to step aside and suspend; both have instead remained in play.

Their argument is that ranked-choice voting allows supporters to choose their favorite Republican first and transfer their vote to another Republican if that candidate is eliminated.

That can happen. The problem is that those transfers cannot be assumed. Many Republicans do not rank because it gos against their nature to vote for someone they don’t align with.

Under Alaska’s rules, a ballot becomes inactive when it no longer ranks a continuing candidate. A voter who chooses only Bronson or Taylor would therefore have no vote counted in a final round between Wilson and Kreiss-Tomkins if that voter’s candidate had been eliminated. The same applies to someone who ranks both men but leaves Wilson off the ballot. 

The September AARP survey illustrated the danger, putting Kreiss-Tomkins at 40% in initial preferences, compared with Wilson’s 20%, Bronson’s 14%, and Taylor’s 7%. After ranked-choice reallocations, Kreiss-Tomkins led Wilson 55%-45%. The survey interviewed 800 likely voters Sept. 8-11. 

Undecided voters and changes in voters’ rankings can alter the outcome.

Trump coming to Wasilla Oct. 13 to rally for Dan Sullivan

Wilson’s No. 1 position within the Republican field has been consistent. Alaska Survey Research pollster Ivan Moore recently disclosed that she has led Republicans in all 15 of his surveys, including polling previously conducted for private clients. His latest ranked-choice simulation nevertheless showed Kreiss-Tomkins defeating Wilson, 54%-46%.

Alaska pollster reveals that Bernadette Wilson has led Republicans in all 15 of his polls

Bronson has defended staying in the race on the grounds that voters who backed other candidates deserve representation.   He has publicly said that Wilson can’t win, and he seems to be willing to ensure that.

He also told the White House that Wilson would be kicked off the ballot because of an APOC complaint — another distortion of the truth. APOC has cleared her of the bogus charges against her, which were designed to create chaos by opponents.

Bronson told the President that he would get out of the race. And then he did not.

He also told party officers that he had raised $2 million. In fact, he has raised hardly a fraction of that, and has but $6,000 cash on hand in his campaign account, according to his 30-day report. He has the least amount of any gubernatorial candidate.

Taylor and Bronson’s ranking strategy depends on persuading their supporters to include the leading Republican, Wilson, on their ballots as a second or third choice.

Suspending their failing campaigns would have allow the candidates to concentrate their efforts on an endorsement and a common message, rather than competing for first-choice votes.

Trump’s post framed the three-against-one lineup as a Republican strategic failure of the Alaska Republican Party, while also attacking the system that permits it.

He separately praised Sullivan and Congressman Nick Begich, urged Alaskans to vote, and reminded them that early voting begins Oct. 19.

Trump’s Wasilla rally will take place at the Menard Memorial Sports Center. Doors open at noon Tuesday, the program begins at 2 pm, and Trump’s remarks are scheduled for 3:30 pm.