ALASKA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION ENDORSES KREISS-TOMKINS FOR GOVERNOR

Growing labor support marks surging momentum

June 23, 2026

Today, Democratic candidate for Alaska governor Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (JKT) and lieutenant governor running mate Zac Johnson announced the endorsement of the Alaska Public Employees Association (APEA/AFT).

APEA/AFT represents thousands of Alaska’s public servants in every corner of the state. Members serve their communities as K-12 teachers, paraprofessionals and support staff; university faculty, adjuncts, and Crafts and Trades employees; State of Alaska supervisors and confidential employees; city and borough employees; and as staff at public corporations and non-profits. APEA is the oldest public employee union in Alaska, formed in 1955 to advocate for the right of state and local government employees to organize to negotiate wages, hours and working conditions.

“I’m proud to earn the backing of APEA/AFT. As governor, I'll invest in public education and fight for the workers who keep our state running,” said Kreiss-Tomkins.

APEA/AFT’s endorsement builds on JKT’s growing support, including endorsements from SEIU 775, former Gov. Tony Knowles,  and over 45 elected leaders from Cordova to Kotzebue and Anchorage to Fairbanks.

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About Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins

Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (JKT), born and raised in Sitka, represented Southeast Alaska’s island communities for 10 years in the State House. He first won election at age 23 after leaving college without a degree to launch a grassroots campaign, traveling by ferry and floatplane to knock on nearly every door across Southeast Alaska, defeating an established incumbent by 32 votes.

A member of the Bipartisan Coalition in the House, he worked across the aisle to protect public education, reduce trawl bycatch and protect our fisheries, invest in infrastructure, revitalize Alaska Native languages, and protect the Permanent Fund from overspending.  After a decade in the legislature, Kreiss-Tomkins retired in 2023, and spent two years working for a national nonprofit on science and technology policy on Capitol Hill, as well as working on campaigns across Alaska and the country. 

Since leaving the legislature, he's seen what all Alaskans have witnessed: a distracted state government that is failing to solve Alaska’s big problems. Prices keep rising. Basic infrastructure is neglected. Schools struggle or close.

Alaska needs new energy and new leadership. JKT is running for governor to support our schools, bring down costs, and give families a reason to stay — so that the next generation will also call Alaska home.

To learn more, visit jktforak.com.

About Zac Johnson

Zac Johnson was born in Anchorage and spent his early years in a dry cabin his parents built along Turnagain Arm. In 2000, at age 19, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as an infantryman. He served two deployments, including during the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

In 2006, Zac returned to Alaska and enrolled at the University of Alaska Anchorage. He volunteered as a firefighter and EMT with the Girdwood Fire Department before joining the Alaska State Troopers in 2013. As a state pilot and trooper with the Fairbanks-based Rural Unit, he worked missions from Dillingham to Arctic Village, and nearly every community in between. He later became a Tactical Flight Officer flying remote search and rescues, fishery patrols, and drug busts with federal law enforcement.

In 2023, Zac won election to the Anchorage Assembly as an independent. He has served as a strong advocate for public safety and responsible government. Today, Zac lives in South Anchorage with his wife, Liz, and continues to lead with Alaskan values of compassion, community, and hard work.