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Murkowski Endorses Democrat Kreiss-Tomkins for Alaska Governor

Updated 7:10 PM ET · 1:23 PM ETConfirmed

Politics Desk

In Short: Alaska's Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski endorsed Democratic candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins for governor, snubbing Trump-backed rivals.

Alaska's Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski endorsed Democratic candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins for governor on Tuesday, a move that snubbed Trump-backed rivals in the race.

Murkowski told KTUU that Kreiss-Tomkins is a 'common-sense guy who has a known ability to be working together.' She emphasized the need for a governor who can work effectively with the Legislature.

In a statement, Murkowski said, 'Alaskans don’t need any help voting for their preferred candidates, and the State of Alaska has already handled this by clearly distinguishing the candidates on this year’s ballot.'

Murkowski also highlighted Kreiss-Tomkins' ability to listen to people with different perspectives and find common ground to solve problems.

Murkowski's endorsement came just days after President Trump slammed her on Truth Social, calling her 'Republicans’ Worst Senator, by far,' and encouraging Alaskans to repeal ranked-choice voting.

Kreiss-Tomkins, known as JKT, is the only Democrat in a four-way race against three Republicans: Trump-endorsed Bernadette Wilson, Dave Bronson, and Treg Taylor.

Murkowski's endorsement of Kreiss-Tomkins is not the first time she has crossed party lines. She endorsed Democrat Mary Peltola in 2024 for her bid for reelection to the U.S. House.

Kreiss-Tomkins said he was 'honored to have Senator Murkowski’s support,' noting his campaign's focus on bipartisanship.

Murkowski's father, former Senator Frank Murkowski, also endorsed Kreiss-Tomkins, adding to the bipartisan support.

Wilson, who was endorsed by Trump, said she would oppose Murkowski’s reelection campaign in 2028, highlighting the political tensions in the race.

The NBC News Decision Desk rates the governor’s race in Alaska as leaning Democratic, despite Trump's previous victories in the state.

Murkowski's endorsement of Kreiss-Tomkins underscores her commitment to working across party lines to address Alaska's fiscal and energy challenges.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• “JKT is young Alaskan with a view and a perspective that I think Alaska needs right now,” Murkowski told Rebecca Palsha on Tuesday.
• “We need a governor who’s going to work with the legislature,” she said.
• Alaska “Republican” Sen. Lisa Murkowski endorsed Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tompkins in the state’s race for governor, saying he “understands that governing requires listening to people with different perspectives and finding common ground to solve the problems all of us face,” Alaska Public Media reported.
• President Trump slammed Murkowski in a Truth Social post on October 24, calling her “Republicans’ Worst Senator, by far,” and called the RCV scheme “a TOTAL DEMOCRAT SCAM meant to confuse the Voter” and encouraged Alaskans to repeal it in next week’s general election.
• "I am announcing my endorsement of Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins," Murkowski told KTUU, describing the candidate as "a common-sense guy who has a known ability to be working together."
• "Our future is too important to be hamstrung by partisan divisions," Murkowski said, according to a press release from the Kreiss-Tomkins campaign "Jonathan understands that governing requires listening to people with different perspectives and finding common ground to solve the problems all of us face. Alaska needs a serious conversation about our fiscal future, as well as a focus on the cost of energy and growing our economy. I believe Jonathan is committed to working toward solutions that serve all Alaskans, regardless of party," she added.
• Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has thrown her support behind Democratic Alaska gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins as well as his nonpartisan running mate for lieutenant governor Zac Johnson.
• Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the Justice Department’s lawsuit over Alaska ’s closely watched Senate election on Saturday, as Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said the department “should never have filed” the case.
• 13, hours before he appeared for a rally in Wasilla.
• She pointed specifically to the Alaska Marine Highway System.
• "I'm honored to have Senator Murkowski’s support," Kreiss-Tomkins noted, according his campaign's release.
• Lisa Murkowski announced her support for Kreiss-Tomkins, a former state lawmaker known as JKT, on Tuesday.

What's still developing

• After President Trump’s 2024 win, Murkowski voted against the confirmations of a number of Trump appointees.
• Murkowski said she has "found fault" with the current GOP Gov. Mike Dunleavy's administration.
• "I think that they have left federal money on the table," Murkowski said of Dunleavy.
• OAN Staff Lillian Mann 1:41 PM – Wednesday, October 28, 2026 Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski’s backing of a Democrat candidate in the Alaska gubernatorial race has sparked an intense debate over bipartisan endorsement ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
• “My directive is to serve the people of the state of Alaska,” she said, stressing that her responsibility extends to Republicans, Democrats, independents, and unaffiliated voters.
• “This litigation seeks to ensure that after Alaskans cast their ballots, they are preserved in a manner so that only Alaska’s governing officials have the information necessary to make a determination as to whether Alaskan voters were confused or mislead [sic],” Blanche wrote.

Sources

• AOL.comlink
• Alaska Beaconlink
• Alaska Public Medialink
• Alaska's News Sourcelink
• Breitbartlink
• Fox Newslink
• Justthenewslink
• MEAWW Newslink
• NBC Newslink
• Oannlink
• Mandatorylink
• Newsweeklink
• MS NOWlink
• Justthenewslink
• WarpBeat — background on Murkowski Endorses Democratic Candidate for Alaska Governor link
• WarpBeat — background on Murkowski Endorses Democrat for Alaska Governor, Snubbing Trump link
• Alaska's News Source — video link