U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski announced on Tuesday that she is backing Democratic candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins in the Alaska governor’s race, bypassing the field of Republican contenders just one week before Election Day. Murkowski, recognized as one of President Donald Trump’s more vocal critics within the Senate Republican caucus, said she is supporting Kreiss-Tomkins over Bernadette Wilson, who secured an endorsement from Trump earlier this month.
Speaking in an interview with Anchorage NBC affiliate KTUU, Murkowski praised Kreiss-Tomkins as a candidate who brings a vital perspective to the state. She described him as a young Alaskan offering a freshness of energy and a commonsense approach characterized by a demonstrated ability to collaborate across political lines. Alaska utilizes a ranked-choice voting system, and Murkowski expressed concern that the three Republican candidates on the ballot were overly partisan.
“We need a governor who’s going to work with the Legislature,” Murkowski said, adding that such cooperation is essential for Alaska’s congressional delegation to achieve success in Washington, D.C. In addition to Wilson, the race to succeed term-limited Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy features former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson and former state Attorney General Treg Taylor. The NBC News Decision Desk currently rates the gubernatorial contest in Alaska—a state that voted for Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024—as leaning Democratic.
Kreiss-Tompkins, a former state lawmaker, expressed gratitude for the endorsement during an interview with KTUU. He noted that he holds deep respect for Murkowski’s integrity and her record of bipartisan work in Congress, qualities he aims to emulate if elected. He mentioned that the two had engaged in several conversations during his campaign and expressed appreciation for her confidence in his ticket’s ability to solve problems for the state.
Wilson dismissed the endorsement in a public statement, criticizing Murkowski’s political record and labeling the Democratic candidate with a derogatory nickname. Wilson argued that Kreiss-Tomkins’ allegiance lies with extreme political factions rather than everyday Alaskans.
The cross-party endorsement unfolds amid broader political friction between Murkowski and the Trump administration. Last week, the administration filed a lawsuit against Alaska election officials, arguing that the appearance of a candidate named Dan J. Sullivan Jr. on the ballot could confuse voters attempting to support incumbent Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan. Murkowski is not facing re-election until 2028, but she has endorsed Sullivan’s current re-election campaign, which also includes Democratic candidate Mary Peltola.
Murkowski publicly criticized the federal lawsuit on the social media platform X, stating that Alaskans do not require outside assistance to vote for their preferred candidates and noting that the state had already distinguished the similarly named candidates on the ballot. The following day, Trump responded on social media by criticizing Murkowski and labeling her as the Republican Party’s least effective senator.
