Late Friday night, Sept. 4, Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom reversed a decision she made four days earlier and said she will certify former attorney general Treg Taylor as a final-four candidate in Alaska’s race for governor.
The Alaska Public Offices Commission had recommended Taylor, a Republican, not be certified as a candidate because he reported more than $1 million in rental income but did not list the full names of his tenants as required by Alaska’s candidate financial disclosure laws.
Dahlstrom on Aug. 31 said she would follow that recommendation.
But in a press release issued at 10:15 p.m. Sept. 4, she said a review by the Department of Law — which Taylor oversaw for four years until resigning in August 2025 — contested the commission’s findings.
“The Department of Law’s informal review has raised questions about the recommendations made on August 31,” Dahlstrom said. “I will not withhold certification … that, in light of this additional information, I cannot apply with confidence across the field of candidates.”
Despite multiple requests from Public Offices Commission staff, Taylor did not disclose the full names of his tenants, prompting the commission — whose members come from both major political parties — to recommend his disqualification.
Taylor, in an all-caps social media message posted shortly after 10 p.m. Sept. 4, declared “IT’S ON BABY.” He posted his notice before Dahlstrom publicly announced her decision.
The Alaska Division of Elections issued a statement Friday that its list of official candidates has been updated to include Taylor as the fourth gubernatorial candidate and Candice English as his running mate.
Former Sitka legislator Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins won the Aug. 18 primary with 22.5% of the vote, followed by fellow Democrat former Anchorage State Sen. Tom Begich at 20.8%. Begich quickly dropped out and endorsed Kreiss-Tomkins.
In a statement, Begich said that withdrawing means Democratic support is consolidated around a single candidate. That means more money for the Kreiss-Tomkins’ campaign and less chance of a split vote in November.
Begich was the top choice among Wrangell voters, with 83 votes.
Republican Anchorage business owner Bernadette Wilson placed third in the primary at 10.1%, with former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson, also a Republican, in fourth place at 8.1%.
Taylor, who placed fifth with 7.3%, moved up to the fourth spot on the November general election ballot when Begich dropped out.
Seventeen candidates ran in the primary to replace incumbent Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who cannot seek another term. The top four in the primary, regardless of political party, advance to the general election.
Just days before Dahlstrom restored Taylor’s name to the ballot, his lieutenant governor running mate, Republican Anchorage businesswoman English, filed to take over Taylor’s spot at the top of the ticket and run for governor. English named Taylor’s wife, Jodi Taylor, as her running mate.
With Treg Taylor back on the ballot, English will go back to running for lieutenant governor and Jodi Taylor’s short-lived candidacy will end.
According to the certified results, 166,992 voters participated in the August primary election, the most since the 2022 primary, which coincided with a special general election following the death of Alaska U.S. Rep. Don Young earlier that year.
The first ballots for the November general election are scheduled to be mailed to voters starting Sept. 18.
The Alaska Beacon and Anchorage Daily News contributed reporting to this story.
