Former Alaska Senator Tom Begich is looking to make a political comeback.
On Monday, the Anchorage lawmaker officially filed to run for governor in 2026, putting his name forward as the first Democrat to jump into the race.
Begich served in the Alaska Senate from 2017 to 2023. He served as Senate Minority Leader from 2019 to the end of his term.
“After years of divisiveness stagnating Alaska, it’s time for leadership that listens, understands where we have come from, and has a clear vision for where we can go. I believe we can turn Alaska around. We can bring hope and opportunity back to our state. We can unify our cultures and communities. Together, we can build our future around the shared values that make Alaska unique,” Begich said in a press release.
On the Republican side, the field is already crowded. The list of declared candidates includes former Senator Click Bishop, former Revenue Commissioner Adam Crum, Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom, Mat-Su Borough Mayor Edna DeVries, State Medical Board member Matt Heilala, Senator Shelley Hughes, retired educator James Parkin, and entrepreneur Bernadette Wilson.
But the Republican side may not be finished. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski has said she’s considering it, and Attorney General Treg Taylor is also being talked about as a possible contender.
For Democrats, the big question mark is former Congresswoman Mary Peltola. Though she hasn’t made an announcement, many in her party see her as a strong potential challenger in the race.
This is a developing story.
