Democrat Tom Begich steps aside, setting off a scramble in Alaska governor’s race

Democrat Tom Begich and running mate Julia Hnilicka announce suspension of their campaign. Screen shot from Facebook video posted on Aug. 28, 2026. (Photo from Begich’s campaign)
Friday’s election results have triggered a chain of political maneuvers, starting with Tom Begich’s decision to step down to give fellow Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tompkins a better shot at winning.
The latest count has Kreiss-Tompkins finishing first in the primary, followed by Begich. Republicans Berna