WHILE OTHER CANDIDATES FOLLOW NATIONAL POLITICS, JKT SHOWS UP FOR ALASKA
Kreiss-Tomkins will be only candidate attending today’s Fairbanks Chamber event
October 13 , 2026
Alaska governor candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (JKT) issued the following statement after the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce announced that its October 13 Gubernatorial Forum would proceed with Kreiss-Tomkins as the only candidate participating in a moderated discussion, following other candidates’ cancellations related to President Donald Trump's visit to Wasilla.
For the second week in a row, ours is the only campaign putting Alaskans and our homegrown business community first. While the other candidates are rearranging their schedules around national politics, I'll be in Fairbanks talking with local leaders about restoring fiscal responsibility and building a business-friendly state — starting with building the gasline and making sure it includes a Fairbanks spur. I’m focused on making Alaska a place where businesses want to invest and where that investment creates good jobs for Alaskans.
Alaskans deserve a governor who puts Alaska first. That means showing up, listening, and focusing on problem solving, not the national political spotlight.
I'm grateful to the Fairbanks Chamber for making this conversation possible, and I look forward to a productive discussion about the economic future of the Interior.
The Fairbanks Chamber's “On the Business Issues: A Conversation with Gubernatorial Candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins” will take place today, Tuesday, October 13, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at 8 Star Events Center.
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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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