Two messages, one takeaway: JKT will “meet in the middle” with Alaskans of all political backgrounds
October 29, 2026
On Saturday, the Anchorage Daily News (ADN) editorial board announced its endorsement of Alaska governor candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (JKT) in an editorial published on the ADN website. This is the first time the ADN has endorsed a gubernatorial candidate in more than a decade.
The ADN editorial board wrote:
Alaska’s next governor inherits a structural deficit, a Permanent Fund under constant pressure and school districts that have spent years bracing for the next veto. The job calls for someone who can count legislative votes, do the math and work with people who don’t share his party identity.
The choice on the Nov. 3 ballot is crystal clear: Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins is the best fit for Alaska….
He calls himself “pro-math.” Good. After the last eight years, Alaska could use a governor who is….
Kreiss-Tomkins spent a decade in the House, much of it in a coalition of Democrats, independents and Republicans that focused on what members could agree on. His approach is “we’re all in this together.” He has talked about a cabinet drawn from across the political spectrum. That’s the right instinct….
He’s pragmatic and energetic, and he has earned a chance to prove it.
ADN’s editorial board is independent of its newsroom.
The full endorsing editorial is available here.
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JKT’s campaign also released a new television ad featuring JKT describing his cross-partisan, problem-solving approach to governing:
Alaska is at a crossroads. Costs continue to rise. Families are struggling to make ends meet. And politicians are playing partisan politics instead of getting things done. I’m Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins and I’ll work with anyone to deliver for Alaskans. As a state representative, I worked with Republicans, Democrats, and independents, and that’s what I’ll do as governor. Because to support our schools, protect our fisheries, and lower costs, we’ve got to meet in the middle.
The ad builds on JKT’s growing cross-partisan coalition of supporters, including endorsements from Senator Lisa Murkowski (R) and three former Alaska governors, Frank Murkowski (R), Bill Walker (I), and Tony Knowles (D).
Watch JKT’s new ad here.
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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.
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