Alaska Governor Voter Guide: Bronson, Kreiss-Tomkins, Taylor and Wilson on the PFD and Taxes
Four candidates are on the ballot for governor of Alaska on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: Republican Dave Bronson, Democrat Jonathan "JKT" Kreiss-Tomkins, Republican Treg Taylor and Republican Bernadette Wilson. Gov. Mike Dunleavy is term-limited and cannot run again. Alaska ranks its general election candidates, so voters can mark a first choice and backups.
The race has turned on two questions: the Permanent Fund dividend, the yearly check every eligible Alaskan receives, and whether the state needs new taxes. State law sets a formula for the dividend, but legislators have not followed it since 2016, and the Alaska Supreme Court upheld that, the Alaska Beacon reported. A full formula dividend would have been roughly $3,800 this year, according to Alaska Public Media.
The Digital Free Press voter guide video compares the four side by side on the dividend and new taxes. Here is where each one stands.
Dave Bronson (Republican)
Bronson was mayor of Anchorage from 2021 to 2024 and is a former U.S. Air Force pilot, according to his campaign site. His running mate is Josh Church, a financial professional.
On the dividend, the video says Bronson wants the PFD to follow the formula in state law. His campaign site says the dividend "belongs to the people of Alaska" and adds, "I support a full statutory PFD, but how we achieve that will take work." In an August interview with Alaska Public Media, he said he would submit a full formula dividend in his budget each year "knowing full well the money is not there," and that reaching it could take six to eight years of better Permanent Fund returns and trimming government. He told the Alaska Beacon he supports turning the Permanent Fund into an endowment protected in the state constitution, with the dividend paid from its earnings "under a published formula."
On taxes, the video says Bronson opposes new taxes, saying, "Life is hard enough on Alaskans today." His campaign site calls for developing oil, gas, mining, critical minerals and timber "without raising taxes." Asked by the Beacon what new revenue he would support, he answered, "Gas line, gas line, gas line," and called for cutting red tape. He told the Beacon the current tax structure for oil and gas companies "is acceptable."
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (Democrat)
Kreiss-Tomkins, of Sitka, served a decade in the Alaska House of Representatives, according to his campaign site. The state candidate list shows him as a registered Democrat; his running mate, Anchorage Assembly member Zac Johnson, is nonpartisan.
On the dividend, the video says Kreiss-Tomkins would rewrite the formula as part of a broader fiscal compromise. He told the Alaska Beacon he would "consider supporting a constitutional PFD" as part of a deal that restructures the Permanent Fund, "rewrites the PFD formula, and enacts new revenue." At an October debate, he said, "If we pay a $4,000 dividend, the only way that that dividend is going to get paid for is that you are spending down the Permanent Fund itself," Alaska Public Media reported.
On taxes, the video says Kreiss-Tomkins opposes new taxes just to pay for bigger dividends and wants to close a corporate tax loophole. He told the Beacon he would close "the S-corp loophole" so that privately held oil companies such as Hilcorp pay corporate income tax, as ConocoPhillips does, and would collect corporate tax from large online companies. He told Alaska Public Media he is "bearish" on a statewide sales tax and wants to consult the Legislature on an income tax. The Anchorage Daily News reported that he voted for a state income tax bill in 2017, which failed in the state Senate, and that he is the only candidate who has promised to introduce a balanced budget.
Treg Taylor (Republican)
Taylor served as Alaska's attorney general from 2021 until August 2025, after three years as a deputy attorney general, and has worked as an attorney for 22 years, according to his campaign site and Alaska Beacon answers. His running mate is Candi English, a manufacturing business owner.
On the dividend, the video says Taylor wants a constitutional framework for meaningful, predictable dividends. His campaign site says, "Alaska should pay the largest PFD we can afford, based on sound principles, not political games," and pledges to put the PFD in the state constitution. "I think we have to lock up the Permanent Fund," he said at a September forum, the Alaska Beacon reported. "We have to protect that corpus."
On taxes, the video quotes Taylor saying, "You can't tax your way to prosperity," and calling for more resource production and jobs. In a September campaign post on TikTok and X, he wrote, "You cannot tax your way to prosperity. Right now Alaskan families are struggling, and they're leaving the state." He told the Beacon, "Alaskans are already paying enough. No new taxes!" and said government should first grow the economy, develop resources and attract investment.
Bernadette Wilson (Republican)
Wilson owns Denali Disposal, an Anchorage garbage-hauling business, and is a former radio host and conservative activist, according to Alaska Public Media. This is her first run for public office. President Donald Trump has endorsed her, the Anchorage Daily News reported. Her running mate is former state Sen. Mike Shower.
On the dividend, the video says Wilson would follow the formula even if the payout is small. At an October debate she said, "Here's the deal: follow the formula. If the money isn't there, then follow the formula," adding, "So pay out $25, pay out $50. The reality is, the money is there," Alaska Public Media reported. Her campaign site says, "Our statutory Permanent Fund Dividend will be restored." She told Alaska Public Media in August, "I'm going to fight like hell for that Permanent Fund dividend."
On taxes, the video says Wilson opposes new taxes. She said at the October debate that she would oppose new taxes and would start by looking for efficiencies, including an audit of state government, Alaska Public Media reported. "If I'm the last person standing, I will absolutely oppose an income tax," she said this month, according to the Anchorage Daily News.
Where to Follow the Candidates
Dave Bronson: @alaska4bronson on X. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins: @jktforak on X and TikTok. Treg Taylor: @tregtaylorak on X and @tregtaylor on TikTok. Bernadette Wilson: @bernadette4gov on X and TikTok.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. This guide is for information only; The Digital Free Press does not endorse any candidate.
Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press
Hold Everyone Accountable.
Sources: Alaska Beacon, Governor, Voter Guide: 2026 General Election: https://alaskabeacon.com/voter-guides/contests/2026-alaska-governor-2/ ; Alaska Beacon, "Three Alaska gubernatorial candidates endorse plan to restrict Permanent Fund spending" (Sept. 21, 2026): https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/09/21/three-alaska-gubernatorial-candidates-endorse-plan-to-restrict-permanent-fund-spending/ ; Alaska Public Media, "3 takeaways from Alaska's gubernatorial Debate for the State" (Oct. 9, 2026): https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/alaska-legislature/2026-10-09/3-takeaways-from-alaskas-gubernatorial-debate-for-the-state ; Alaska Public Media, "Republican Dave Bronson says 'tough' term as mayor gives him an edge in governor's race" (Aug. 10, 2026): https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-08-10/republican-dave-bronson-says-tough-term-as-mayor-gives-him-an-edge-in-governors-race ; Alaska Public Media, "Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins pitches himself as a changemaker in Alaska governor's race" (Oct. 20, 2026): https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-10-20/democrat-jonathan-kreiss-tomkins-pitches-himself-as-a-changemaker-in-alaska-governors-race ; Alaska Public Media, "Republican governor candidate Bernadette Wilson says she's frustrated Alaska is stagnant" (Aug. 14, 2026): https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-08-14/republican-governor-candidate-bernadette-wilson-says-shes-frustrated-alaska-is-stagnant ; Anchorage Daily News, "'Less magical thinking': Kreiss-Tomkins says Alaska needs new revenue measures. Republicans disagree." (Oct. 16, 2026): https://www.adn.com/politics/2026/10/16/less-magical-thinking-kreiss-tomkins-says-alaska-needs-new-revenue-measures-republicans-disagree/ ; Alaska Division of Elections, 2026 General Election candidate list: https://www.elections.alaska.gov/election-candidates/ ; Dave Bronson campaign: https://www.davebronson.com/ ; Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins campaign: https://www.jktforak.com/platform ; Treg Taylor campaign: https://tregforak.com/ ; Bernadette Wilson campaign: https://bernadetteforgovernor.com/ ; Treg Taylor on TikTok (September 2026): https://www.tiktok.com/@tregtaylor/video/7687720203937090846
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