Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins will be Alaska's next governor after defeating three Republicans, ending more than two decades without a Democrat in the office.
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Tomkins → defeat → office
The former state lawmaker, who is 37 and often referred to as JKT, beat Bernadette Wilson, Dave Bronson and Treg Taylor.
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who → refer → Wilson
His win means Democrats will hold the governor's office in 30 states, among them several they flipped after years of Republican control in places such as Iowa, Georgia, Ohio and Texas.
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they → mean → Iowa
The result was part of a national midterm elections wave that gave the party sweeping wins in state governments across the country.
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that → give → country
Kreiss-Tomkins completed a political comeback three years after leaving the state House.
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Tomkins → complete → House
He traveled throughout Alaska to build his coalition and focused on affordability and advocated for full funding of public schools and called for all oil and gas producers to pay corporate income tax.
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producers → travel → tax
Kreiss-Tomkins also sought a moratorium on new data centers until state lawmakers pass regulations for their development.
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lawmakers → seek → development
He said Alaska had become "broken" under eight years of outgoing Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy and needed a change.
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Alaska → say → change
Among the issues he cited was a state ferry system that he said has been left in shambles, with routes to many communities cut drastically.
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routes → cite → communities
The ferry is a key mode of transportation for southeast Alaska communities not connected by roads, some of which also have limited air service.
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some → connect → service
Kreiss-Tomkins emphasized a willingness to work across party lines and said he wanted a Cabinet with Republicans, Democrats and independents.
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he → emphasize → Republicans
“If they’re competent, if they’re service-minded, if they’re entrepreneurial, if they’re problem-solvers, you’re on the team.
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you → ’re → team
Game on,” he said during a candidate forum last month.
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he → say → forum
“Let’s go, and let’s get Alaska back on track.”
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Alaska → let → track
Kreiss-Tomkins said compromise “is a virtue, not a dirty word,” and said he saw the mission of the new governor as working with lawmakers to resolve longstanding problems in the state.
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he → say → state
Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who has at times been at odds with her party, including Trump, endorsed Kreiss-Tomkins a week before the election.
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who → include → election
She said Kreiss-Tomkins “understands that governing requires listening to people with different perspectives and finding common ground to solve the problems all of us face.”
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all → say → us
Three former governors also endorsed him: Democrat Tony Knowles, independent Bill Walker and Republican Frank Murkowski, the senator's father.
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governors → endorse → him
In a statement declaring victory earlier Friday, Kreiss-Tomkins said voters wanted change and “a government that works across party lines to move Alaska forward.
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that → declare → Alaska
Our administration will not waste a single day getting to work to solve problems for Alaska.”
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administration → waste → Alaska
He said his campaign had more than 10,000 donors.
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campaign → say → donors
His campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment after The Associated Press called the race.
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Press → respond → race
Trump had endorsed Wilson, a business owner, and criticized the other Republican candidates for staying in the race.
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Trump → endorse → race
Bronson congratulated Kreiss-Tomkins on social media and wished him success.
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Bronson → congratulate → success
A message seeking comment from Wilson's campaign was not immediately returned.
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message → seek → campaign
Many Republicans saw ranking as their party's best shot of retaining the governor's seat.
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Republicans → see → seat
It was a message that conflicted with that of Trump, who has consistently complained about Alaska's unusual voting method, including during a rally in Alaska in October.
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who → conflict → October
Kreiss-Tomkins finished first in August's open primary, followed by a second Democrat, Tom Begich, who withdrew from the race.
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who → finish → race
Begich's campaign at the time said it had concluded that the “strongest path to victory is to bring Democratic voters, donors and resources together behind one candidate.”
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path → say → candidate
Wilson finished third in the primary.
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Wilson → finish → primary
The Aporia
