Lone Democratic candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins remains in the lead in the race for Alaska governor. The former state representative from Sitka spent election night in Downtown Anchorage, watching results roll in with a crowd of 350 family members, friends, and supporters.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Kreiss-Tomkins had 49.1% of the vote, with nearly all precincts reporting. Republican Bernadette Wilson trails behind at 29.2%. Kreiss-Tomkins would need more than 50% to avoid going to a second round of voting, under Alaska’s ranked-choice system.
KCAW’s Hope McKenney sat down with Kreiss-Tomkins Wednesday afternoon to talk to him about election night and how he’s feeling about his bid for the governor’s seat. Listen to the conversation here:
TRANSCRIPT:
KCAW: As of this afternoon, you’re leading in the polls. How are you feeling? Are you feeling optimistic?
KREISS-TOMKINS: Yes, we think there’s a pretty decent chance that as additional outstanding ballots are counted, given where those ballots are coming from, that we will push north of 50% in the polls, and that’s always been our reach goal: is to crack 50% in the first round so that ranking isn’t required. [I] feel cautiously optimistic we’re on track to do that.
KCAW: And so people are talking about this kind of “blue wave” that swept across the country on election night. Democrats flipped Congress, won races in historically conservative states. Now, Alaska could have its first Democratic governor in more than two decades. What’s your reaction to all of that?
KREISS-TOMKINS: I feel we were building a big tent campaign that had the ability to win this race in Alaska no matter what the national climate was. I think there is a lot of fundamental strength in our campaign, and that we will see in the numbers, when all the votes are counted, that suggest that to be the case. And also, I think the national climate, the national dissatisfaction with I think the president, to some extent, and just the state of the country, it definitely put wind in our sails with this race on the state level.
KCAW: So, if you do become governor, what are the biggest priorities you’d want to tackle first?
KREISS-TOMKINS: Just as I campaigned, [I’m] really focused on the basics and finding common ground and solving problems that most Alaskans can agree on. Very high on the list is public education and reinvesting in K-12 education and forward funding education, as well as passing retirement for teachers as well as public employees. So, you know, those are two immediate legislative pushes, both of which have broad legislative support, but have just been frustrated by vetoes from Governor Dunleavy in the last year. And then also tackling cost of living, whether it’s housing or energy and electricity, or childcare. So there’s a lot of work to be done, but those are a couple of issues that really jump first to mind.
KCAW: So yesterday I spent some time down at the polls talking to people, and you have widespread support here in Sitka. I think that we’re at like 66, 67 percent of folks voted for you in the election. Do you have anything you’d like to say to Sitka voters who really turned out for you on election day?
KREISS-TOMKINS: Well, I’m just so grateful. Sitka and my old district at large in Southeast Alaska, even more broadly, were key reasons why we won the primary election out of 17 candidates. And the extraordinary support from home means the world to me on a personal level and was materially significant on a statewide level in the primary. And continuing to see that support going forward in the general election just means a lot. This community made me who I am, and I, you know, won’t ever forget that. And it’s always home, and I’m just very grateful to have that support from home, and it’s been there every step of the way from this campaign, including when we launched it in the Sheet’ká Ḵwáan Naa Kahídi on on February 4.
