Candidates for Governor Dave Bronson and Treg Taylor launched an ad featuring both of them encouraging voters to “Rank 1, 2, 3, or get JKT.” On September 25, KTUU first reported Candidate for Governor Bernadette Wilson’s response to the ad, saying that her nonparticipation was not on purpose and she also “strongly encourages” voters to rank all three conservative candidates if Taylor and Bronson choose to remain active in the race.
In the ad, Bronson tells voters, “If you only rank one Republican, your ballot can be exhausted, thrown away entirely. JKT wins and Republican votes die.” Taylor confidently states, “If conservatives rank all three Republicans, we will have a Republican governor.”
When questioned about the ad, Wilson provided this statement: “The best chance Republicans have to win this race is for both to suspend their campaigns and unite behind us. In the absence of that happening, I am glad they are encouraging their supporters to rank all three candidates. If there continue to be three active Republicans in this race, ranking is clearly the right choice, and we also strongly encourage conservatives to do so.”
Wilson has been urging her Republican competitors to suspend their campaigns despite the general election ballots being set with four names. The withdrawal period ended August 31. Although Wilson retains the position that suspension would be the optimal path to a conservative victory, Wilson is now aligning with broad conservative agreement that ranking all three candidates remains the best realistic strategy.
A spokesperson for the Wilson campaign also told KTUU that Wilson never saw the invitation to join the ad because it had ended up in a spam folder. The spokesperson said that it is “hard to say” whether Wilson would have joined or not.
Recent polling from AARP shows JKT winning in the final round due to a large number of undecided voters and voters who did not rank. Mathematical analysis shows all four candidates have a chance of being elected depending on how undecided voters make up their minds and how many conservatives rank their ballots. Undecided votes and ranking decisions will play a large role in the final outcome of one of the closest watched midterms in the nation.
Must Read Alaska unequivocally supports the election of a conservative to the Office of Governor but does not endorse a particular gubernatorial candidate. MRAK encourages voters to rank all three Republicans in their preferred order.
Conservative commentary on strategy
Todd Lindley, Vice President of Alaska Gold Communications, Inc.: Opinion: Wilson, please reconsider your strategy
Greg Sarber, conservative writer and former board member of Alaska Gold Communications, Inc.: Opinion: Conservative Alaskans need to vote strategically for Governor
Jim Minnery, President of Alaska Family Council: Opinion: Alaska Family Council speaks on governor’s race, invites Christians to prayer gathering
Rep. Kevin McCabe (R-Big Lake): Opinion: Use their own weapon to beat them
Shelley Hughes, former 2026 candidate for Governor and Senate Majority Leader: Hughes endorses Treg Taylor for Governor (plus rank the other two Republicans)
Blake Gettys, former 2026 candidate for Lt. Governor: Hughes endorses Treg Taylor for Governor (plus rank the other two Republicans)
Dr. George B. Hightower, former 2026 candidate for Lt. Governor (ran with Edna DeVries): Opinion: The governor’s race is a fight for freedom; here’s how to win
Jon Faulkner, President of Alaska Gold Communications, Inc.: Opinion: An Obi-Wan Kenobi moment for the Taylor/English campaign
Todd Lindley, Vice President of Alaska Gold Communication, Inc.: Opinion: We can win with the right mindset— policy over person
