Treg Taylor will not be certified as gubernatorial candidate in fall election, lieutenant governor says

Decision injects uncertainty into who will be fourth candidate against Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, Republicans Bernadette Wilson and Dave Bronson

Former state Attorney General Treg Taylor, center, is flanked by former state Sen. Click Bishop, left, and former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson at a forum for Republican gubernatorial candidates at the Baranof Hotel on Feb. 11, 2026. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

This is a developing story.

Alaska’s governor’s race got a shakeup on Monday as Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom announced former state Attorney General Treg Taylor will not be certified as a candidate.

The race may be subject to further shakeouts before the deadline for candidates to withdraw at 5 p.m. Monday.

Taylor will not be certified because of an Alaska Public Offices Commission determination that he did not comply with financial disclosure requirements, Dahlstrom announced in a press release Monday morning. Taylor finished fifth in the Aug. 18 primary, but moved up to the fourth slot when second-place finisher Tom Begich withdrew and endorsed fellow Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins who finished first among the 17 candidates.

“This is a difficult decision made under an extraordinarily tight timeline and in circumstances we have not faced before,” Dahlstrom said in a prepared statement. “The law, however, is not unclear. When a candidate has not complied with Alaska’s financial disclosure requirements within the time required, the Lieutenant Governor may not certify that person’s nomination. My responsibility is to follow that law and apply it consistently.”

APOC declared last week that Taylor reported more than $1 million in rental income, but did not disclose the full names of his tenants as required by Alaska’s campaign laws.

Taylor, who has issued statements that he complied with state requirements, on Sunday issued a statement on social media calling for the two Republicans who finished ahead of him — Bernadette Wilson and Dave Bronson — to join into one ticket. The statement said Taylor would endorse such a ticket, but did not state explicitly that he would drop out of the race.

The disqualification of Taylor means that, absent a court challenge, his running mate Candice English, a Republican businesswoman and first-time candidate, will need to name a running mate by 5 p.m. Monday to remain on the ballot.

If English is removed, the next primary candidate in line is former state Sen. Click Bishop. He is widely considered more moderate than most of the Republican field, taking different positions on key issues — including his support of ranked choiced voting, which virtually all other GOP candidates opposed.

If Wilson and Bronson joined as a single ticket, or one dropped out, the next-ranked candidates are former state revenue commissioner Adam Crum and former state Sen. Shelley Hughes, both Republicans. If both of them withdraw, the next candidate is independent former Gov. Bill Walker, which could add further uncertainty among voters not firmly committed to voting for a Democratic or Republican candidate.

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