Bernadette Wilson (R) – Alaska Governor 2026

About

Bernadette Wilson is a Republican Anchorage business owner, conservative activist and former talk-radio host who owns Denali Disposal; she has not previously held elective office. She finished as the top Republican in the August 18 primary with 10% of the vote and campaigns on spending reductions, resource development and a full statutory Permanent Fund dividend. Wilson opposes ranked-choice voting and has urged Republicans to coordinate their rankings, while her campaign has also faced questions arising from a preliminary review of candidate financial disclosures.

Biography sources 8

Positions on Key Issues

Positions of Bernadette Wilson on key issues
Issue	Stance	Sources
Economy	Wilson says Alaska has a spending problem rather than a revenue problem and opposes increasing taxes on the oil industry. At an August 26, 2026 Alaska Oil and Gas Association forum, she called for deep state-budget cuts, saying Alaska should “DOGE the heck out of it.” Her campaign’s policy page also says the governor should follow the statutory formula for distributing the Permanent Fund Dividend and describes withheld dividends as money owed to Alaskans.	Top 4 candidates for governor differ on oil taxes and state budget On the Issues \| Bernadette for Governor of Alaska 2026
Climate/Energy	At an Aug. 26, 2026 Alaska Oil and Gas Association forum, Wilson opposed increasing taxes on the oil industry and argued that the proposed AKLNG natural-gas pipeline was economically viable and should not have been blocked by the Legislature. The available post-primary reporting does not identify a specific climate-change mitigation or renewable-energy proposal from her.	Alaska gubernatorial candidates highlight contrasting philosophies on oil and gas
Firearms & Second Amendment	The NRA Political Victory Fund gave Bernadette Wilson an A rating, describing that rating as applying to a candidate who is “solidly pro-gun” and who has supported NRA positions on key votes or has a demonstrated record of support for Second Amendment issues. Her campaign’s official issues page does not state a specific firearms policy.	Which Candidates Get A+ from NRA for Second Amendment Rights? On the Issues \| Bernadette for Governor of Alaska 2026
Civil Rights & Equality	Wilson’s campaign says Alaska should end “discrimination and income-based inequality” in education, arguing that lower-income families have fewer educational options than wealthier families. Her proposed remedies include Educational Savings Accounts, backpack funding, and other school-choice models; the cited platform page does not state a broader position on civil-rights protections beyond education.	On the Issues \| Bernadette for Governor of Alaska 2026
Education	Wilson says Alaska should replace what she describes as a one-size-fits-all education system with greater choice and accountability. Her campaign supports considering Educational Savings Accounts, backpack funding, No More Lines, and Learn Everywhere models, and argues that school funding— including Base Student Allocation increases—should be tied to transparency and measurable student outcomes.	On the Issues \| Bernadette for Governor of Alaska 2026
Election Policy	Wilson supports repealing Alaska's ranked-choice voting system and describes herself as a sponsor of the repeal effort. She argues that, until repeal, Republicans should unite behind the top Republican primary vote-getter so conservative votes are not divided in the general election.	Bernadette Wilson Pledges To Exit Race If Not Top Republican
Local Issues	Wilson says Alaska should pursue major resource and infrastructure projects—including AKLNG, NPRA, ANWR, Willow, Ambler Road, West Susitna and King Cove—and develop the state’s natural resources. She supports restoring the statutory Permanent Fund Dividend, improving school outcomes through accountability and expanded education choices, and protecting future salmon runs; at an Aug. 26 forum, she also called for substantial state budget cuts rather than higher oil-and-gas or broad-based taxes.	Vision for Alaska \| Bernadette Wilson for Governor 2026 On the Issues \| Bernadette Wilson for Governor of Alaska 2026 Alaska gubernatorial candidates highlight contrasting philosophies on oil and gas

Review an issue

Economy

Wilson says Alaska has a spending problem rather than a revenue problem and opposes increasing taxes on the oil industry. At an August 26, 2026 Alaska Oil and Gas Association forum, she called for deep state-budget cuts, saying Alaska should “DOGE the heck out of it.” Her campaign’s policy page also says the governor should follow the statutory formula for distributing the Permanent Fund Dividend and describes withheld dividends as money owed to Alaskans.

Sources:

Top 4 candidates for governor differ on oil taxes and state budget

On the Issues | Bernadette for Governor of Alaska 2026

Choose another issue above to review the remaining researched positions.

No public position found: Healthcare, Abortion & Reproductive Health, Immigration, Foreign Policy, Tech & AI

Top Donors

Raised over $300K from nearly 1,500 individual donors by early 2026, and reported $395,985 in new receipts in the July 30-day APOC filing, the most of any Republican candidate in the race. All reported funds came from donors, with no candidate self-funding, and the campaign reported $172,283 cash on hand with no debt. An independent group, 'Build the Damn Roads!', was formed to support her candidacy.

Sources

Bernadette Wilson Raises Over $300k Wilson, Crum lead Republican field in fundraising reports 2026 Alaska gubernatorial election - Wikipedia

Voting Record

Has never held elective office. She is a conservative activist, former radio host, and small business owner who served as Alaska state director for Americans for Prosperity and interim executive director of the Alaska Republican Party. Her 2026 campaign priorities include paying a full Permanent Fund dividend, blocking new data centers, and conservative fiscal policy; she completed a pledge to withdraw if she did not finish as the top Republican in the primary and went on to be the leading GOP vote-getter.

Sources

View full voting record Third Republican candidate, Bernadette Wilson, enters Alaska governor's race Conservative Media Personality Makes Runoff for Alaska Governor - NYT

About this research

Data compiled from public sources and analyzed using AI. Last updated October 10, 2026. Visit candidate websites for the most current information.