Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins becomes first Democrat since 1998 elected governor in Alaska

Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins has won Alaska’s governorship, making him the first Democrat elected to the office since 1998. His victory forms part of a wider midterm wave of Democratic gains in state governments and gives the party control of the governor’s office in 30 states.

The 37-year-old former state lawmaker defeated Republicans Bernadette Wilson, Dave Bronson and Treg Taylor; Wilson had President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Kreiss-Tomkins campaigned on affordability, fully funding public schools and requiring oil and gas producers to pay corporate income tax, and called for a pause on new data centres until regulations are passed. He also pledged to work across party lines and received endorsements from Senator Lisa Murkowski and three former Alaska governors.