Democrat Tom Begich has withdrawn from Alaska's governor's race and endorsed primary frontrunner Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, a move aimed at consolidating the party's strength as it seeks to win the state's top office for the first time in nearly a quarter-century. The announcement, which was made on the final day candidates could withdraw from the ballot, leaves Kreiss-Tomkins as the only Democrat in the race.
Kreiss-Tomkins, who finished with the most votes in the August 18 primary, will now face off against two Republicans in November, a result of Alaska's ranked-vote general election system that advances the top four finishers regardless of party affiliation. The Associated Press reported that state Democrats are in 'lockstep' and intend to win the governor's seat.
Consolidating the Democratic vote
Begich, along with running mate Julia Hnilicka, announced the suspension of their campaign late Friday, citing a review of internal data and information from the Kreiss-Tomkins campaign that led to their decision. In a statement, the pair said they concluded 'that the strongest path to victory is to bring Democratic voters, donors and resources together behind one candidate.'
'Rather than competing over visions that share so much in common, we are choosing to put our strength behind a shared vision for Alaska,' Begich said, according to the Associated Press and The Economic Times.
Kreiss-Tomkins, who received the most votes in the primary, welcomed Begich's supporters, vowing to make it his campaign's mission to earn their backing. 'To hell with political infighting,' he said. 'Let's build a future made in Alaska.' The Economic Times reported that Kreiss-Tomkins' campaign has focused on issues including public education funding, housing, and energy costs.
A long-sought prize
Democrats see an opportunity to claim the governor's mansion for the first time since Tony Knowles left office in 2002. The state's last Democratic governor, Knowles served from 1994 to 2002. The party's hopes are buoyed by the candidacy of Kreiss-Tomkins, who The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported is the party's best chance to flip the seat.
Republican field takes shape
Meanwhile, the Republican field is set to feature Bernadette Wilson and Dave Bronson, who were the top two Republican primary finishers. The party is also dealing with the fall-out of Treg Taylor's failed bid to appear on the ballot. The former state attorney general finished fifth in the primary but was decertified by Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom after the state campaign finance commission found he had not 'substantially compl[ied]' with financial disclosure requirements, according to The Economic Times.