Leaders emerge in governor’s race, proposition limiting donations passing in early primary results

Mark Sabbatini
15 hours ago
2 min read

Mary Peltola leading Sen. Dan Sullivan 48%-43%, Dan J. Sullivan at 2.46% in US Senate race; Rep. Andi Story leading challenger Annette Kreitzer in District 3 House race

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

Three of 17 candidates for governor are clear contenders for a final-four spot in the general election and a ballot proposition restoring limits on campaign donations is easily passing in early returns from Alaska’s primary election as of 2 a.m. Wednesday.

The results from the Alaska Division of Elections as of that time are for 132,713 ballots representing 22.08% of the state’s registered voters in 378 of 403 precincts. About 193,000 ballots were cast during the midterm primary in 2022.

Results will be tallied until Aug. 28 when final unofficial results are announced, with certification of the results expected by Aug. 31.

Leading the governor's race are Democratic candidates Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins with 21.67% and Tom Begich with 20.1%. Next are Republicans Bernadette Wilson with 10.47% and Dave Bronson with 8.42%. Outside of the top four are Republicans Treg Taylor at 7.45% and Click Bishop at 7.14%, Adam Crum at 5.69% and Shelley Hughes at 5.58%. Former independent Gov. Bill Walker trails those candidates at 4.43%.

The race is open since incumbent Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy cannot run this year because he is nearing the end of his second consecutive term.

While Kreiss-Tomkins and Begich appear destined for the Nov. 3 general election under Alaska’s open primary in which the top four candidates advance regardless of party, both have acknowledged they are discussing scenarios where one could support the other rather than splitting votes among them. Republicans have held similar strategic discussions.

In the nationally watched U.S. Senate race, Democratic challenger Mary Peltola with 48.04% is ahead of Republican incumbent Dan S. Sullivan with 42.84%. Namesake Republican challenger Dan J. Sullivan has 2.44%, well ahead of the 13 remaining candidates.

First-term Republican incumbent Rep. Nick Begich III is comfortably ahead of independent challenger Bill Hill 46%-31%, with Democrat Matt Schultz at 8%, although he has withdrawn from the race. Fourth is New York federal prison inmate Eric Hafner, running as a Democrat, at 3.8% and fifth is Democrat John B. Williams at 2.59%.

Ballot Measure 1, which would prohibit donors in state-level elections from giving a candidate more than $2,000 per election and limit groups to $4,000 per candidate, was passing 71%-27%.

In the District 3 House race, Democratic incumbent Andi Story was ahead of Republican challenger Annette Kreitzer 69.84%-30.16% with all 10 precincts reporting. Both will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.