--- title: "Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins Becomes New Governor of Alaska — First Since 1998" description: "Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins won the Alaska gubernatorial election with about 51% of the vote, becoming the first Democrat to lead the state since 1998. The victory is part of a broader Democratic wave in the midterms." date: 2026-11-14T18:52:18.386Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/democrat-first-since-1998-alaska-governor tags: [alaska, us-elections, democrats, gubernatorial-election, midterms] author: "Marina Slivenko" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins Becomes New Governor of Alaska — First Since 1998 ![Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins surrounded by supporters celebrating his victory in the Alaska gubernatorial election](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/14/demokrat-vpervye-s-1998-goda-stal-gubernatorom-alaski/demokrat-vpervye-s-1998-goda-stal-gubernatorom-alaski-1.webp) ## Key Points - Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins secures about 51% of the vote and wins the Alaska gubernatorial election. - He becomes the first Democrat to lead the state since 1998; his main rival was Trump-backed Republican Bernadette Wilson (~28%). - The 37-year-old former Sitka representative promised increased school funding, cost-of-living relief, and a bipartisan administration. - The victory fits into a broader Democratic wave during the midterms (including the Mississippi Senate race); the Alaska Senate race outcome is still undetermined. On Friday, November 13, the Associated Press, citing preliminary data from the Alaska Division of Elections, reported the victory of Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins in the state gubernatorial election. With the majority of votes counted, the Democratic candidate is securing about 51% of the vote, guaranteeing his win. Thus, Alaska will get a Democratic governor for the first time since 1998. ### Voting Results According to published data from the Alaska election commission, Kreiss-Tomkins's closest challenger was Republican Bernadette Wilson, whose candidacy was endorsed by US President Donald Trump: she received just over 28% of the vote. Two other Republican candidates round out the race with 13.6% and 7.2% respectively. The significant margin between the frontrunner and his closest rival makes an upset unlikely, although final certification of the results is still pending. ### Who is Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins The new governor is 37 years old; he previously represented the city of Sitka in the state House of Representatives. During the campaign, Kreiss-Tomkins promised to increase school funding, combat the rising cost of living, and build an administration that includes representatives from diverse political views. His victory is perceived as a signal of a changing political landscape in a state where Republicans have dominated gubernatorial elections for years. ### Historical Significance for Alaska The last Democrat to lead Alaska was elected in 1998, and since then the governor's office has been held by Republicans. Kreiss-Tomkins's victory breaks a nearly 28-year streak of Republican governors and stands out as one of the prominent outcomes of the US midterm elections. ### Part of a Broader Democratic Wave The results in Alaska fit into a broader context of the midterm elections, during which the Democratic Party is strengthening its positions in multiple states simultaneously. Two days earlier, Democrat Scott Colom was elected US Senator from Mississippi, becoming the state's first Democratic senator since 1982 and the first Black senator from Mississippi; this victory allowed Democrats to increase their seat count in the upper chamber to 55 out of 100. Simultaneously, according to several outlets, Democrats achieved historic victories in Texas as well — in both the gubernatorial and Senate races. The outcome of the Senate race in Alaska itself remains undecided at the time of publication. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Выборы в США: демократ впервые за 28 лет станет губернатором Аляски](https://www.dw.com/ru/gubernatorom-alaski-vpervye-s-1998-goda-izbran-demokrat/a-79948971) - Primary source: AP and Alaska division of elections data — 51% for Kreiss-Tomkins, ~28% for Wilson, 13.6% and 7.2% for other Republicans; first Democratic governor since 1998; Colom's victory in Mississippi (55 seats in the Senate). - [Демократ впервые за 30 лет станет губернатором Техаса — оплота республиканцев](https://nashaniva.com/ru/408458) - Context: Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Republican Governor Greg Abbott in Texas. - [Демократ впервые за 30 лет станет губернатором «оплота республиканцев»](https://www.rbc.ru/politics/04/11/2026/6aeab23de9fdb802b640852c) - Confirms Gina Hinojosa's victory over Greg Abbott in Texas (NBC, CBS, NPR). - [В штате Техас демократ впервые за 38 лет одержал победу на выборах в Сенат США](https://nv.ua/world/countries/promezhutochnye-vybory-v-ssha-v-tehase-vpervye-za-38-let-senatorom-ot-shtata-stanet-demokrat-50656063.html) - Context: Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race. ## FAQ ### Who won the Alaska gubernatorial election? According to preliminary data, Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins with approximately 51% of the vote. ### Why is this victory considered historic? Kreiss-Tomkins will become the first Democrat to lead Alaska since 1998. ### Who was the winner's main opponent? Republican Bernadette Wilson, who received just over 28% of the vote and was supported by President Donald Trump. ### Is the outcome of the Alaska Senate race determined? No, at the time of publication, the result of the Senate race in Alaska has not yet been determined.