Democrat wins Alaska governor’s seat for first time in nearly 30 years

Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins has won Alaska’s governorship, making him the first Democrat elected to the post since 1998. His victory adds to Democrats’ gains in the midterms, which have shifted political power across the country and brought the party’s total to 30 governorships.

The 37-year-old former state legislator defeated three Republican candidates, including one endorsed by Donald Trump, and won more than half of first-choice votes. His campaign focused on affordability, public education funding and oil and gas taxes; he also proposed pausing new data centre developments until regulations are set. Kreiss-Tomkins criticised outgoing Republican governor Mike Dunleavy and pledged a cabinet including Democrats, Republicans and independents.