Tom Begich Enters Alaska’s 2026 Governor’s Race
Former Sen. Tom Begich files to run for governor, the first Democrat in a crowded 2026 race who hopes to succeed Republican Mike DunleavyFormer state Sen. Tom Begich of Anchorage has filed to run for governor, becoming the first Democrat to enter what is already a crowded 2026 race. Eight Republicans have declared their candidacies, hoping to succeed the incumbent governor, Mike Dunleavy. “I am running because I believe we cannot afford the divisiveness that has stagnated Alaska any longer,” Begich said in a statement to SDMN. The road ahead is steep. No Democrat has won the governor’s office since Tony Knowles’s reelection in 1998. Still, Begich points to signs that the political map is shifting. Former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola’s electoral victories in 2022 showed that Democrats remain competitive in Alaska, and the state’s Ranked Choice Voting system may create opportunities for a candidate who can appeal beyond party lines.
Begich, who served in the Alaska Senate from 2017 to 2023, said his campaign will focus on unity, education, and economic diversification. He also has a record of bipartisan collaboration. During his time in the Senate, he worked closely with Republican leaders, including Gov. Mike Dunleavy, on initiatives such as the Alaska Reads Act, a major literacy effort passed in 2022. “Looking to the future means listening to, and learning from, all Alaskans. It means entrusting all our cultures, indigenous and immigrant, with the tools to help build a better future for all Alaskans. Key to that is ensuring we have a great education system that helps build opportunity for the next generation.” Begich stated. He argued Alaska must move beyond reliance on oil. “It means ensuring that we break our long-term reliance on oil and develop other locally based industries, craft industries, technology, and tourism… It means cheaper energy because we invest in alternatives that cost less than diesel and gas and that are predictable and sustainable.” Begich emphasized the importance of inclusion, particularly for Alaska’s Latino community. “Latinos are targeted unfairly by this federal Administration and treated like second-class citizens… There is no place in Alaska or America for that. All citizens deserve the respect and protection of the law.” The Begich family has long been one of Alaska’s most prominent political dynasties. His father, Nick Begich Sr., served in Congress before his disappearance in a 1972 plane crash. His brother, Mark, served as the Mayor of Anchorage (2003 to 2009) and then as a one-term U.S. Senator, and his nephew, Nick Begich III, is Alaska’s current at-large Republican congressman. |