Senator Lisa Murkowski Endorses Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins for Alaska Governor

Senator Lisa Murkowski Endorses Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins for Alaska Governor

by

Lisa Murkowski and Her Father Back Democrat in Alaska Governor’s Race

Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski has broken with her party to endorse Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins in the four-way race for Alaska governor, aligning with a bipartisan coalition that includes her own father, former Republican Gov. and U.S. Sen. Frank Murkowski, along with former governors, endorsed Democratic candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, as reported by Alaska’s News Source.

The surprise endorsement, announced Tuesday via a campaign news release, positions the senior senator behind a candidate who has made cross-party cooperation a cornerstone of his bid to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy. Kreiss-Tomkins, a former Sitka state lawmaker known widely as JKT, currently leads a field that includes three Republican contenders: Bernadette Wilson, Dave Bronson, and Treg Taylor.

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski endorses Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins for Alaska Gov

A Family Tradition of Crossing Party Lines

Lisa Murkowski’s willingness to look past party labels is a well-established part of her political identity in Alaska. She previously endorsed Democrat Mary Peltola in her 2024 reelection bid for the U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan in his concurrent reelection campaign. Her record of defying national Republican orthodoxy also includes opposing the 2018 Supreme Court confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

In an interview with Alaska’s News Source, Murkowski explained that her primary focus rests on state governance rather than strict partisan alignment. My directive is to serve the people of the state of Alaska, Murkowski said. And that does mean Republicans and it does mean Democrats and means Independents and means people who choose not to be affiliated with any party at all.

The family ties to this cross-partisan movement run deep. Frank Murkowski joined former Democratic Gov. Tony Knowles and former independent Gov. Bill Walker in coauthoring an Anchorage Daily News op-ed endorsing Kreiss-Tomkins. The three former governors emphasized a shared commitment to the state’s future despite their varied political backgrounds. Frank Murkowski notably appointed Lisa to his vacated U.S. Senate seat after winning the governorship in 2002.

Friction with the Dunleavy Administration and National Republicans

Murkowski’s endorsement arrives amid pointed criticism of the incumbent Republican administration. Speaking with Alaska’s News Source, she faulted Gov. Dunleavy’s team for leaving federal money on the table, pointing specifically to unfulfilled opportunities for the Alaska Marine Highway System.

Senator Lisa Murkowski Endorses Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins for Alaska Governor
Photo: alaskasnewssource.com

That criticism mirrors her strained relationship with national Republican leadership. President Donald Trump, who endorsed Bernadette Wilson during an October 13 rally in Wasilla, has repeatedly lambasted the senator on social media and criticized Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system as a DEMOCRAT SCAM.

Republican gubernatorial candidates have reacted differently to the turbulence within their party. While Wilson has urged her fellow Republican opponents to drop out to avoid splitting the Republican vote, Bronson noted to Alaska’s News Source that Murkowski is entitled to her endorsement just as Trump is. Meanwhile, Treg Taylor expressed public disappointment over the senator’s decision to back a Democrat, alaskabeacon.com reported.

The Bipartisan Pitch

For his part, Kreiss-Tomkins has pledged to stock his gubernatorial cabinet with Republicans, independents, and Democrats alike if elected. Accepting the senator’s backing, he emphasized the practical necessities of state leadership.

Alaskans deserve a government that can work through disagreements and make progress on the issues that matter.

As the campaign heads toward its conclusion, the unusual alignment of prominent Alaska political figures behind a single Democratic contender continues to reshape a race defined by fractured conservative support.

More on Alaska: Bear 89 Wins Alaska Fat Bear Week Competition

More on Lisa Murkowski

Keep reading

Read next