Bernadette Wilson, a former talk radio host and lifelong Alaskan, has thrown her hat into the ring for the governor’s race in Alaska, joining an already crowded Republican field that includes state Senator Click Bishop and Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom. The race is shaping up as one of the most competitive in recent memory, with multiple candidates vying to fill the role vacated by term-limited incumbent Governor Mike Dunleavy.
Wilson, whose family tree is rooted in Alaska politics, brings a unique blend of business acumen and political experience to the campaign. Her great-uncle, Wally Hickel, served two non-consecutive terms as governor, first in the 1960s as a Republican and later in the 1990s as a member of the Alaska Independence Party. Wilson, who was born on the Kenai Peninsula and raised in Anchorage, cited her family’s legacy of political service as an asset in her bid for the governorship. Her own background includes owning a garbage company, which she has operated for nearly a decade, further underscoring her outsider status in the state’s political landscape.
The campaign has also seen Wilson take a firm stance on ranked choice voting (RCV), a system that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. Wilson argues that RCV has led to voter confusion and disenfranchisement, particularly in the state’s recent elections. She pointed to the election of former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola as an example of how the system can skew outcomes, a claim that has drawn both support and criticism from voters across the state.
Wilson’s focus on energy development is another central theme of her campaign. She has criticized the Biden administration for imposing sanctions on Alaska more than the country of Iran, claiming this has harmed the state’s ability to lead in energy production. She has pledged to work with the Trump administration on its energy agenda, which she believes could help revive Alaska’s fossil fuel industry and create jobs. Her emphasis on infrastructure projects, including cross-border transportation links with Canada, reflects her broader vision for economic growth through improved regional connectivity.
Despite her conservative credentials, Wilson has not shied away from addressing broader national issues, including the ongoing tensions with Canada over territorial claims. She has called for collaboration on infrastructure projects that could strengthen ties between Alaska and its northern neighbor. Additionally, she has expressed concerns about the potential long-term effects of the Biden administration’s policies on Alaska’s energy sector, emphasizing the need for a more business-friendly approach to governance.
With the primary set for 2026, Wilson’s entry into the race has added another layer of complexity to an already competitive field. Her mix of business experience, family political legacy, and clear stance on key issues like energy and ranked choice voting positions her as a formidable contender in the race for Alaska’s governorship.