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Who is Bernadette Wilson and what is Wilson running on in the 2026 Alaska Governor race?
Bernadette Wilson (R) is on the ballot in the 2026 Alaska Governor race.
Mary Spio
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Bernadette Wilson is the Republican candidate for Alaska governor. Anchorage businesswoman (owns Denali Disposal), conservative activist, former Alaska director of Americans for Prosperity; running mate ex-state Sen. Mike Shower. Top Republican in the primary. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
The race
Alaska GovernorToss-up
Chance of winning: Kalshi and Polymarket, Aug 30
- The seat: Open seat (Mike Dunleavy (R) term-limited); top-four ballot, ranked-choice general.
- Rating: Cook and Sabato rate it favorable to Republicans (per Newsweek, ~Aug 30, 2026).
- Polling: First round: Kreiss-Tomkins 40, Wilson 20, Bronson 14, English/Taylor 7, 19% other/undecided (AARP, 800 LV, released Sept 22, 2026); Kreiss-Tomkins wins final RCV round by 10 over Wilson. co/efficient (Sept 17): Kreiss-Tomkins 43, Wilson 20, Bronson 17, English/Taylor 6.
Why Wilson is behind
- Republican vote is split three ways (Wilson, Bronson, English) while Democrats consolidated after Tom Begich withdrew to back Kreiss-Tomkins.
- Kreiss-Tomkins leads first-round polls around 40 to 43% and wins the simulated RCV final round by 10 in the AARP poll.
- But Republicans together won ~49.5% of the primary vote, and the AARP pollster warned the undecided vote leans Republican, so second-choice transfers could favor Wilson.
- Voter dissatisfaction with term-limited Gov. Dunleavy and an aggressive, modern Kreiss-Tomkins campaign helped him to first place in the primary (22.5%).
What Wilson is running on
- PFD. Supports paying the full statutory Permanent Fund Dividend, funded by major government cuts.
- Fisheries. Wants to get bycatch under control; criticizes appointing trawlers to fisheries boards.
- Energy / cost of living. Backs a natural gas pipeline to cut high energy costs.
- Climate. Sceptical of carbon credit programs, calling them ‘monopoly money’.
- Elections. Opposes ranked-choice voting as convoluted.
In Wilson’s own words
“I 100% support paying out a statutory Permanent Fund dividend.”
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