JKT PROVES BIPARTISAN APPEAL DURING FIRST AND ONLY “DEBATE FOR THE STATE”
Promises to “work together to find common ground”
October 8 , 2026
Tonight, on the “Debate for the State” stage, Alaska governor candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (JKT) made the case that Alaskans are ready for change, and that his is the only campaign prepared to deliver on that mandate.
JKT drew a clear contrast with his opponents. “If you've liked the last eight years of Governor Dunleavy, you have a very clear option for four more,” he said, adding that “we need to be able to work together to find common ground, to bridge where there's disagreement, and that's what's going to move Alaska forward.”
On the other hand, Bernadette Wilson attacked bipartisan cooperation outright, drawing pushback even from fellow Republican Dave Bronson: “Everyone's tired of this fighting and the screaming and hollering at each other, as am I. That's why we're in this mess. It's fighting like this that causes the problem,” said Bronson.
“I’ll work with anyone, regardless of party, to get Alaska back on track,” said Kreiss-Tomkins after the debate.
“Tonight made it clear,” campaign manager Isaac Frumkin said. “Every place we go, from the Kuskokwim to the Kenai, people tell us they want a governor who’ll actually get things done. If you want four more years of the same gridlock, you’ve got options. If you want change, there’s only one campaign offering it.”
The debate comes 26 days before the General Election and four days after the candidates’ latest financial disclosures showed JKT’s campaign has more Alaskan donors than all three of his competitors combined. Tomorrow, JKT heads to Utqiagvik to continue his groundswell of momentum with just ten days until early voting begins.
On The Issues:
JKT focused on the issues most important to Alaskans, highlighting problems including the cost of living, rising class sizes, struggling fisheries, and the barriers to building plentiful and affordable housing across the state.
On education, JKT said:
“If I'm governor, I'm going to fully fund education. I'm going to forward fund education, so school districts don't have to guess how much money they're going to have and fire teachers and then rehire them a couple months later, and going to give teachers a retirement so they actually have a future in the profession and are incented to stay in the classroom, whereas right now teachers are fleeing Alaska for other states where they have a future in the profession that they love.”
“I do not subscribe to the theory of education that the beatings will stop when morale proves, and Alaska public education has taken an absolute beating in the last eight years under this governor through funding cuts and neglect of our public schools.”
On fisheries, JKT said:
“I've walked the walk. And if I'm elected as governor, that will be the policy of the state of Alaska to reduce bycatch and prioritize Alaska's fisheries resources for Alaskans and Alaska communities.”
“The state needs to prioritize the resource for Alaska residents and Alaska communities.”
“I was on the Kuskokwim River this last weekend, and it's heartbreaking to spend time. I was in Akiak, Akiachak, Kwethluk, and talked with folks in villages who rely on a subsistence way of life do not have access to salmon.”
On housing, JKT said:
“Right now, you've got to basically win a lottery to be able to afford a home in Alaska, and we need to unleash a housing building boom across the state. Houses of all kinds, apartment buildings, single-family homes, trailers, prefab, modular, accessory dwelling units — you name it.”
On a responsible budget, JKT said:
“I'm pro math, and I want to be fiscally realistic and fiscally responsible.”
“There's not been a single balanced budget that's been introduced by this governor. If you want to start fixing what is broken in Alaska, you should vote for me and Zac.”
On energy, JKT said:
“I'm an all of the above energy person. That includes renewables, wind and solar, that includes hydro, that includes natural gas, anything that pencils and can drive down the cost.”
On a defined benefit pension for public employees, JKT said:
“We owe it to our teachers, our state troopers, our other public employees, and I stand by my position as the pro-math candidate in the race.”
On working across the aisle, JKT said:
“We can respectfully disagree on issues, and we can respect each other as people and as fellow Alaskans. And that's very much my mindset in public service.”
“We need to be able to work together to find common ground, to bridge where there's disagreement, and that's what's going to move Alaska forward.”
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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 support Alaska schools, protect our fisheries, invest in infrastructure, fight corruption and protect the Permanent Fund. 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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