Erstmals seit 1998: Demokrat gewinnt Gouverneurswahl in Alaska

For the first time since 1998, Democrats have secured a gubernatorial victory in Alaska. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, a 37-year-old candidate, emerged triumphant over three Republican opponents, according to AP news agency reports based on vote counts. This makes him the youngest governor in Alaska's history, the most northerly U.S. state.

The Democratic Party will now hold 30 of the 50 governorships across the nation, a figure not seen since 1993. This marks the first time since 2010 that Democrats hold a majority, giving them control over nearly three-quarters of the U.S. population living in states with Democratic governors. Preliminary results indicate Kreiss-Tomkins received approximately 51% of first-preference votes.

Voters in Alaska can rank multiple candidates according to preference. Among his three Republican contenders was Bernadette Wilson, supported by President Donald Trump. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski surprisingly endorsed Kreiss-Tomkins. Kreiss-Tomkins previously served as a representative in Alaska's House of Representatives for nearly a decade.

He succeeds Republican Mike Dunleavy, who could no longer run after two terms. Alaska is the largest U.S. state by land area but has a population of around 740,000. Its capital is Juneau, while the largest city is Anchorage.