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Candidate record

Dave Bronson

Former mayor of Anchorage (2021 to 2024) and former manager of Anchorage's international airport (2025). Retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and airline pilot. Campaign affiliation: Registered Republican.

Voter guide

Background, stated goals, record, and money

Goals come from the campaign's own platform. Record lines are official actions.

How this guide is built

Background comes from official records, and from the campaign's own biography where the bullet says so; goals are summarized from the campaign's own platform and stay attributed; the record lines are official actions with the government source attached; money is shown as filed, with the filings it covers in the note under the table, and is not evidence of why any position was taken.

Dave Bronson

Background

  • Mayor of Anchorage from 2021 to 2024.
  • Retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who flew B-52 and B-1B bombers, then an airline captain.
  • Manager of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport from January 27 to September 2, 2025.
  • Running mate: Josh Church of Fairbanks, a Marine special operations veteran and investment adviser.

What they say they want to do

  • Develop oil, gas, mining, critical minerals and timber, without raising taxes.
  • Sell more state land to Alaskans, so housing is easier to get.
  • Make every state department justify its budget from zero.
  • Pay a full statutory dividend, and run the Permanent Fund as one endowment.
  • Ban trawling where it has done unacceptable harm.

What the official record shows

  • The state budget signed this day gave Anchorage $100 million for the Port of Alaska, plus up to $100 million more to match federal money.
  • The police union signed a contract extension with his administration: a 7.8% raise in January 2024, then 3.3%, 4.3% and 3.3% through 2027.
  • Finished fourth of 17 tickets in the top-four primary, with 13,364 votes (8.13%).

Campaign money from other committees, by type

Governor candidates file with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. We have not added those filings yet.

Source: Alaska Public Offices Commission

Words and record

What they say, and what the record shows

Each card gets one label from a fixed list and states its own limit.

No assessment

What they say

His campaign says his record includes delivering the largest state appropriation in history for the Port of Alaska.

What the record shows ·

The 2022 budget, signed while he was mayor, gave Anchorage $100 million for its port plus up to $100 million to match federal funds. Largest-ever funding is not established.

Read the full check

Quotes, full record and limits

What they say

His campaign says his record includes delivering the largest state appropriation in history for the Port of Alaska.

“following Dave’s record of delivering the largest state appropriation in history for the Port of Alaska”

What the record shows ·

The state budget signed on June 28, 2022, while he was mayor, gave Anchorage a $100 million grant for the Port of Alaska: $25 million for the year starting July 2022 and $75 million the next. It set aside up to $100 million more, paid only to match federal port money dollar for dollar.

Why there is no assessment here

Whether it was the largest ever turns on every earlier state grant. The 2011 Legislature gave the port expansion $30 million for fiscal 2012, and the city's funding history for the port program, which starts that year, lists no state grant over $50 million. We did not find a full list of state grants to the port before fiscal 2012.

Limit: The Legislature and the governor make appropriations. The city says federal grants have fully matched the second $100 million.

Dave Bronson

Raising police pay

Matches stated record claim

What they say

His campaign says that as mayor he invested in public safety by raising police pay.

What the record shows ·

A 2023 contract extension his administration signed with the police union raised wage rates 7.8% in 2024, with more raises each year through 2027.

Read the full check

Quotes, full record and limits

What they say

His campaign says that as mayor he invested in public safety by raising police pay.

“invested in public safety by raising police pay”

What the record shows ·

On November 3, 2023, the police union signed a contract extension with his administration. It raised police wage rates 7.8% in January 2024, then 3.3% in 2025, 4.3% in 2026 and 3.3% in 2027, and ran the contract through 2027.

Limit: The deal needed the Assembly's approval; we did not find its vote. The Assembly added $3.3 million to the 2024 police budget for higher labor costs. The raises began in 2024, his last year in office.

Issues in this record

Follow the evidence by issue.

SchoolsThe Permanent Fund and the dividendFish and trawlingEnergy and resource developmentCrime and public safetyElections and campaign rules

Evidence timeline

Dated records, with sources attached.

  1. race event

    Final candidate list

    Four tickets for governor: Bronson/Church, Kreiss-Tomkins/Johnson, Taylor/English and Wilson/Shower, plus write-in Parkin/Greer.

  2. race event

    Taylor's nomination certified

    The lieutenant governor reverses course after a Department of Law review.

  3. race event

    Taylor's nomination held

    The lieutenant governor says she will not certify Taylor after the Public Offices Commission finds his financial disclosure fell short.

  4. race event

    Begich steps aside

    Democrat Tom Begich suspends his campaign, which moves Treg Taylor into the top four.

  5. race event

    Top-four primary

    Kreiss-Tomkins finishes first, Tom Begich second, Wilson third, Bronson fourth and Taylor fifth, of 17 tickets.

  6. race event

    Anchorage police contract extended

    The police union signs an extension with Dave Bronson's administration, with a 7.8% raise in 2024.

  7. race event

    State budget with port money signed

    It gives Anchorage $100 million for the Port of Alaska while Dave Bronson is mayor, plus up to $100 million to match federal money.

See something wrong or incomplete? Report it for review.

Sources23 source records

How we use sources

  1. Official election pamphlet statement: Dave Bronson (document)

    Alaska Division of Elections · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Candidate-written and candidate-paid statement published by the Division of Elections, which says the views are the candidate's own.

    candidate statement

    For: Current role; Background, goals, record and campaign money

  2. Dave Bronson appointed as airport manager of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airporthttps://dot.alaska.gov/anc/passengers-press-releases.shtml

    Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities · Published Jan 17, 2025 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Release dated January 17, 2025, on the airport's press release page. He was to start January 27, 2025.

    official office record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money

  3. Former mayor Bronson leaves job as manager of Anchorage's international airporthttps://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2025/09/03/former-mayor-dave-bronson-leaves-job-as-manager-of-anchorages-international-airport/

    Anchorage Daily News · Published Sep 3, 2025 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    September 3, 2025. Quotes a state transportation department statement that his last day was Tuesday, September 2, and that he left 'in good standing'.

    original reporting

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money

  4. Official election pamphlet statement: Josh Church, lieutenant governor (document)

    Alaska Division of Elections · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Candidate-written and candidate-paid statement published by the Division of Elections, which says the views are the candidate's own. Used only to name the running mate.

    candidate statement

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money

  5. Dave Bronson for Alaska Governor, homehttps://www.davebronson.com/

    Bronson Church 2026 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Campaign site, signed 'Paid for by Bronson Church 2026'. Links his X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube accounts.

    candidate statement

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; State money for the Port of Alaska

  6. Expanding Alaska land ownershiphttps://www.davebronson.com/s/Expanding-Alaska-Land-Ownership

    Bronson Church 2026 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Campaign plan, a PDF linked from his policies page.

    candidate statement

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money

  7. Zero-based budgeting (document)

    Bronson Church 2026 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Campaign plan, a PDF linked from his policies page.

    candidate statement

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money

  8. Reforming the Permanent Fund through a modern endowment model (document)

    Bronson Church 2026 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Campaign plan, a PDF linked from his policies page.

    candidate statement

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money

  9. Time to end destructive trawling in Alaska (document)

    Bronson Church 2026 · Published Jan 28, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Campaign press advisory dated January 28, 2026, linked from his policies page.

    candidate statement

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money

  10. HB 281 (2022), enrolled operating and capital budget (document)

    Alaska Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Section 35(b) grants Anchorage $100 million for the Port of Alaska modernization project; section 49(l) adds up to $100 million more to match federal port money dollar for dollar. Both from the budget reserve fund.

    official legislative record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; State money for the Port of Alaska; State budget with port money signed

  11. HB 281 and HB 282 veto summary (document)

    Alaska Office of Management and Budget · Published Jun 28, 2022 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Dated June 28, 2022, the day the governor signed the budget. Its list of vetoes includes no Port of Alaska item.

    official office record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; State money for the Port of Alaska; State budget with port money signed

  12. APDEA administrative agreement 2023-02, contract extension (document)

    Municipality of Anchorage · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    A scanned PDF, read by OCR. Signed by the union president and the city's labor relations director on November 3, 2023. Raises wage rates 7.8% in January 2024, 3.3% in 2025, 4.3% in 2026 and 3.3% in 2027, and extends the contract to December 31, 2027. It takes effect on Assembly approval, and the parties would renegotiate a lump sum if it was not approved by January 28, 2024; we did not find the Assembly's vote. Page 1 is headed 'APDEA AA # 2023-01'; every other page says AA#2023-02.

    official office record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Raising police pay; Anchorage police contract extended

  13. 2026 primary election summary report, official results (document)

    Alaska Division of Elections · Published Aug 31, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Official results of the August 18, 2026 top-four primary, report dated August 31, 2026. Governor: Kreiss-Tomkins/Johnson 37,006 (22.52%), Begich/Hnilicka 34,172 (20.80%), Wilson/Shower 16,468 (10.02%), Bronson/Church 13,364 (8.13%), Taylor/English 11,928 (7.26%), and twelve other tickets.

    official election record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Top-four primary

  14. APOC online reports: campaign disclosurehttps://aws.state.ak.us/ApocReports/CampaignDisclosure/CDCandidates.aspx

    Alaska Public Offices Commission · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Where governor candidates' campaign contribution and spending reports are filed. This desk did not read them.

    official election record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money

  15. Don Young Port of Alaska comprehensive plan of finance (document)

    Municipality of Anchorage · Published Jan 16, 2025 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    A worksession draft from the city's chief fiscal officer, dated January 16, 2025. Its funding tables list the state grants to the port program since 2012: $30 million (FY2012), $48.5 million, $50 million in FY2012 state bonds, $20 million (FY2019) and the 2022 grants. Page 27 says the second $100 million has been 'fully matched' by $68.7 million and $50 million federal port grants and $5 million in congressional funding; one of its tables still lists $26.3 million of that grant as pending. It does not itemize state money for the older port expansion before 2012.

    official office record

    For: State money for the Port of Alaska

  16. 2011 Legislature capital budget, project detail by House district (document)

    Alaska Legislative Finance Division · Reviewed Oct 2, 2026

    Lists 'Anchorage - Port of Anchorage Expansion' at $37.5 million appropriated, less a $7.5 million veto, leaving $30 million in the fiscal 2012 budget. It covers only the 2011 session.

    official legislative record

    For: State money for the Port of Alaska

  17. About Dave Bronsonhttps://www.davebronson.com/about-dave

    Bronson Church 2026 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Campaign biography.

    candidate statement

    For: Raising police pay

  18. Human Resources: APDEAhttps://www.muni.org/Departments/employee_relations/pages/apdea.aspx

    Municipality of Anchorage · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    The city's page for the police union contract. Lists the 2021-2027 agreement and administrative agreement 2023-02.

    official office record

    For: Raising police pay

  19. 2024 approved general government operating budget (document)

    Municipality of Anchorage · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    The budget the Assembly adopted for 2024 (AO 2023-95 as amended). Assembly amendment #52, line 9, adds $3.3 million to the police budget for labor increases; the mayor did not veto it. An earlier proposed amendment (Johnson No. 12, November 9, 2023 worksession) sought $2.85 million because the city and the police union had just closed a four-year contract.

    official office record

    For: Raising police pay

  20. 2026 general election candidate listhttps://www.elections.alaska.gov/candidates/?election=26genr

    Alaska Division of Elections · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Page last updated September 25, 2026 at 8:16 am by its own stamp; reread October 1, 2026. Lists four certified governor tickets: Bronson/Church, Kreiss-Tomkins/Johnson, Taylor/English and Wilson/Shower, and one certified write-in ticket, Parkin/Greer.

    official election record

    For: Final candidate list

  21. Lieutenant Governor Dahlstrom will certify nominations of Treg Taylor and Jose Taglehttps://www.elections.alaska.gov/lieutenant-governor-dahlstrom-will-certify-nominations-of-treg-taylor-and-jose-tagle/

    Alaska Division of Elections · Published Sep 4, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Dated September 4, 2026. Reverses the August 31 decision after a Department of Law review found possible discrepancies in many candidates' disclosure statements.

    official election record

    For: Taylor's nomination certified

  22. Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom will not certify Treg Taylor's nomination for governorhttps://www.elections.alaska.gov/lieutenant-governor-nancy-dahlstrom-will-not-certify-treg-taylors-nomination-for-governor/

    Alaska Division of Elections · Published Aug 31, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Dated August 31, 2026. The Alaska Public Offices Commission voted 4-1 that his 2026 financial disclosure did not substantially comply with state law in time, and recommended against certifying his nomination.

    official election record

    For: Taylor's nomination held

  23. Democrat Tom Begich steps aside, setting off a scramble in Alaska governor's racehttps://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-08-31/democrat-tom-begich-steps-aside-setting-off-a-scramble-in-alaska-governors-race

    Alaska Public Media · Published Aug 31, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    By Rhonda McBride, August 31, 2026. Reports that Begich and his running mate suspended their campaign in a video posted August 28, which moved Treg Taylor into the top four.

    original reporting

    For: Begich steps aside