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Candidate record

Jonathan S. "JKT" Kreiss-Tomkins

Former state representative from Sitka (2013 to 2023). Campaign affiliation: Registered Democrat.

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.

Jonathan S. "JKT" Kreiss-Tomkins

Background

  • Born and raised in Sitka. State representative from 2013 to 2023.
  • Left Yale without a degree to run for the Legislature at 23.
  • Lists himself as a business owner. Lives in Anchorage since 2025.
  • Running mate: Zac Johnson, an Anchorage Assembly member and former state trooper, registered nonpartisan.

What they say they want to do

  • Fully fund public schools, fund them a year ahead, and get cell phones out of classrooms.
  • Cut bycatch and stop the Pebble Mine.
  • Protect Medicaid expansion and expand telehealth.
  • Cut red tape to build more homes, and lower power bills by making utilities cooperate.
  • Pause new data centers until the Legislature regulates them.

What the official record shows

  • Won his first House race by 32 votes after a recount, 4,130 to 4,098.
  • His House Bill 216, making 20 Alaska Native languages official state languages, was signed into law.
  • Finished first of 17 tickets in the top-four primary, with 37,006 votes (22.52%).

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.

Jonathan S. "JKT" Kreiss-Tomkins

Alaska Native languages

Matches stated record claim

What they say

His campaign says that in the Legislature he worked across the aisle on several things, including to revitalize Alaska Native languages.

What the record shows ·

He was the first-listed sponsor of a 2014 law making 20 Alaska Native languages official, which passed the House with no votes against and the Senate 18 to 2.

Read the full check

Quotes, full record and limits

What they say

His campaign says that in the Legislature he worked across the aisle on several things, including to revitalize Alaska Native languages.

“I worked across the aisle to reduce trawl bycatch, protect public schools, invest in basic infrastructure like roads and harbors, revitalize Alaska Native languages”

What the record shows ·

He was listed first among the sponsors of House Bill 216, introduced January 21, 2014. It made 20 Alaska Native languages official languages of the state, alongside English. The House passed it with no votes against and the Senate 18 to 2, and it was signed into law on October 23, 2014. The designation is still state law; a 2024 law added more languages.

Limit: Official status does not pay for language programs, and the law says the state need not work in those languages.

Jonathan S. "JKT" Kreiss-Tomkins

Winning his first race by 32 votes

Matches stated record claim

What they say

His election statement says that at 23 he beat Southeast Alaska's longtime representative by 32 votes.

What the record shows ·

After a 2012 recount, the official House District 34 result was 4,130 for him and 4,098 for Republican William A. Thomas, a 32-vote margin.

Read the full check

Quotes, full record and limits

What they say

His election statement says that at 23 he beat Southeast Alaska's longtime representative by 32 votes.

“beat that incumbent by 32 votes”

What the record shows ·

After a recount on December 3, 2012, the official House District 34 result was Kreiss-Tomkins 4,130 and Republican William A. Thomas 4,098: a 32-vote margin.

Limit: The first official count had the margin at 34. His reason for running, the incumbent's oil tax vote, is about an opponent and was not checked.

Matches stated direction

What they say

His platform says the whole Permanent Fund should be protected from overspending in the constitution.

What the record shows ·

He was prime sponsor of a 2021 amendment to cap each year's draw at 5% of the whole fund and move the earnings reserve into principal; it stopped in House Finance.

Read the full check

Quotes, full record and limits

What they say

His platform says the whole Permanent Fund should be protected from overspending in the constitution.

“Make the Permanent Fund permanent: ensure that the entirety of the Permanent Fund is constitutionally protected from overspending so that the fund will grow and benefit future generations of Alaskans.”

What the record shows ·

He was the prime sponsor of House Joint Resolution 1, prefiled January 8, 2021 with Representative Hopkins; four more House members joined as sponsors by May 2021. It would have changed the constitution to cap each year's draw at 5% of the whole fund's average value and to move the earnings reserve into the fund's principal. Two House committees advanced it in April 2021; it stopped in House Finance. His House Bill 165 that year would have moved $4.35 billion from the earnings reserve into the principal.

Limit: Neither measure passed the House. State law already set a 5% yearly draw; the resolution would have put a limit in the constitution.

Jonathan S. "JKT" Kreiss-Tomkins

Keeping fishing permits in Alaska communities

Matches stated direction

What they say

His platform says Alaska's commercial fishing permits should stay in Alaska and be fished by Alaskans.

What the record shows ·

His 2017 bill would have let regional fisheries trusts acquire limited entry permits for fishermen to use; it never reached a House vote and did not require them to live in Alaska.

Read the full check

Quotes, full record and limits

What they say

His platform says Alaska's commercial fishing permits should stay in Alaska and be fished by Alaskans.

“Prevent permits from leaving Alaska for the Lower 48. Alaska’s commercial fishing permits should be fished by Alaskans.”

What the record shows ·

He was the only sponsor of House Bill 188, introduced March 20, 2017. It would have let up to three regional fisheries trusts acquire limited entry permits and transfer them to fishermen for up to six years. Its findings cite a substantial drop since 1975 in permits held by residents of many Alaska communities. The House Fisheries Committee advanced it in February 2018; it stopped in Labor and Commerce.

Limit: The bill never reached a House vote. Each trust could hold no more than 2.5% of a fishery's permits in its region, and the bill did not require the fishermen who used them to live in Alaska.

Jonathan S. "JKT" Kreiss-Tomkins

Bringing back campaign contribution limits

Matches stated direction

What they say

His platform says he would bring back campaign contribution limits for state elections.

What the record shows ·

He voted for a 2022 bill, sponsored by Rep. Schrage, setting a $2,000 individual limit for state candidates; it passed the House 21 to 18 but stopped in the Senate.

Read the full check

Quotes, full record and limits

What they say

His platform says he would bring back campaign contribution limits for state elections.

“Reinstitute campaign contribution limits for state elections.”

What the record shows ·

On March 16, 2022, he voted for House Bill 234, which passed the House 21 to 18. It would have set limits on giving to state candidates, including $2,000 per campaign period from an individual. As a State Affairs Committee member he had recommended it pass. It stopped in the Senate State Affairs Committee.

Limit: Rep. Schrage sponsored the bill, not him. It did not become law.

Jonathan S. "JKT" Kreiss-Tomkins

Pushing to cut trawl bycatch

Matches stated direction

What they say

In the October 8 debate he said that as a legislator he regularly went to federal fishery council meetings, pushed for less bycatch of king and chum salmon and halibut, and wrote several sign-on letters asking for lower bycatch caps and several Anchorage Daily News op-eds.

What the record shows ·

He backed a 2013 committee resolution to halve Chinook bycatch limits, later withdrawn, and signed a 2015 letter to halve halibut bycatch limits; we did not find his other letters or op-eds.

Read the full check

Quotes, full record and limits

What they say

In the October 8 debate he said that as a legislator he regularly went to federal fishery council meetings, pushed for less bycatch of king and chum salmon and halibut, and wrote several sign-on letters asking for lower bycatch caps and several Anchorage Daily News op-eds.

What the record shows ·

In March 2013, on the House Fisheries Committee, he recommended passing the committee's resolution asking the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to cut Chinook salmon bycatch limits in the pollock fisheries to at least half; it was withdrawn before a House vote. In April 2015 he was one of 12 legislators who signed a letter asking the council to cut Bering Sea halibut bycatch limits by half. At a House Fisheries hearing in November 2021 he asked the fish and game commissioner what the state needed before taking a position on the council's options for Bering Sea trawl bycatch, and whether the council should cap chum salmon bycatch.

Limit: The 2013 resolution was the committee's and never reached a House vote. The 2015 letter had 12 signers and does not show who wrote it. We did not find his other letters, his op-eds or records of his council attendance.

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

    Native languages bill signed

    HB 216, sponsored by Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, becomes law.

  7. race event

    Kreiss-Tomkins wins his first race

    A recount confirms his House District 34 win by 32 votes.

See something wrong or incomplete? Report it for review.

Sources31 source records

How we use sources

  1. Official election pamphlet statement: Jonathan S. Kreiss-Tomkins (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; Winning his first race by 32 votes

  2. Official election pamphlet statement: Zac Johnson, 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

  3. Issues and prioritieshttps://www.jktforak.com/platform

    JKT for Alaska · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Campaign platform.

    candidate statement

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Protecting the Permanent Fund in the constitution; Keeping fishing permits in Alaska communities; Bringing back campaign contribution limits

  4. 2012 general election, House District 34 recount, official results (document)

    Alaska Division of Elections · Published Dec 3, 2012 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Dated December 3, 2012. Kreiss-Tomkins 4,130, William A. Thomas 4,098, write-ins 13.

    official election record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Winning his first race by 32 votes; Kreiss-Tomkins wins his first race

  5. HB 216 (2014), as introduced (document)

    Alaska Legislature · Published Jan 21, 2014 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Introduced January 21, 2014, 'by Representatives Kreiss-Tomkins, Millett, Edgmon, Nageak, and Herron', with cosponsors added later.

    official legislative record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Alaska Native languages

  6. HB 216 (28th Legislature), bill historyhttps://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/28?Root=HB%20216

    Alaska Legislature · Published Oct 23, 2014 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Passed the House 38-0 (36-0 on reconsideration) and the Senate 18-2. Signed into law October 23, 2014, chapter 116, SLA 2014; effective January 21, 2015. The page timed out on most tries and loaded on October 1, 2026.

    official legislative record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Alaska Native languages; Native languages bill signed

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. Meet Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkinshttps://www.jktforak.com/meet-jkt

    JKT for Alaska · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Campaign biography in his own words.

    candidate statement

    For: Alaska Native languages

  10. HB 216 (2014), enrolled (document)

    Alaska Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    The bill as passed, headed 'Laws of Alaska 2014'. Adds 20 Alaska Native languages to English as official state languages.

    official legislative record

    For: Alaska Native languages

  11. AS 44.12.310, official languageshttps://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp?media=print&secStart=44.12.310&secEnd=44.12.310

    Alaska Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Current state law. Subsection (a) lists the official languages, including those HB 216 added and four more added in 2024. Subsection (b), added by HB 216, says the designation does not require the state or cities to work in languages other than English.

    official legislative record

    For: Alaska Native languages

  12. HB 26 (2024), enrolled (document)

    Alaska Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Headed 'Laws of Alaska 2024'. Section 2 rewrites the official languages list: it adds Cup'ig and Wetal, and splits Tanana into Middle and Lower Tanana.

    official legislative record

    For: Alaska Native languages

  13. 2012 general election, official results (document)

    Alaska Division of Elections · Published Nov 28, 2012 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Dated November 28, 2012, before the recount. House District 34: Kreiss-Tomkins 4,125, Thomas 4,091.

    official election record

    For: Winning his first race by 32 votes

  14. HJR 1 (32nd Legislature), bill historyhttps://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/32?Root=HJR%201

    Alaska Legislature · Published May 1, 2021 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Prefiled January 8, 2021. Spohnholz, Schrage, Fields and Story were added as sponsors from March to May 2021. Ways and Means moved it April 20, 2021 and Judiciary April 30, 2021. It stayed in House Finance and never reached a floor vote.

    official legislative record

    For: Protecting the Permanent Fund in the constitution

  15. HJR 1 (2021), prefiled version (document)

    Alaska Legislature · Published Jan 8, 2021 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Prefiled January 8, 2021 by Representatives Kreiss-Tomkins and Hopkins.

    official legislative record

    For: Protecting the Permanent Fund in the constitution

  16. SSHJR 1 (2021), sponsor substitute (document)

    Alaska Legislature · Published Feb 18, 2021 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    By Representatives Kreiss-Tomkins, Hopkins, Spohnholz, Schrage, Fields and Story. Would cap yearly appropriations from the Permanent Fund at 5% of its average market value and deposit the earnings reserve into the fund's principal.

    official legislative record

    For: Protecting the Permanent Fund in the constitution

  17. HB 165 (2021), as introduced (document)

    Alaska Legislature · Published Apr 7, 2021 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    By Representatives Kreiss-Tomkins, Spohnholz, Fields and Story. Appropriates $4,350,000,000 from the earnings reserve account to the Permanent Fund's principal.

    official legislative record

    For: Protecting the Permanent Fund in the constitution

  18. HB 165 (32nd Legislature), bill historyhttps://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/32?Root=HB%20165

    Alaska Legislature · Published Apr 21, 2021 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Ways and Means moved it April 20, 2021. It stayed in House Finance.

    official legislative record

    For: Protecting the Permanent Fund in the constitution

  19. HB 188 (30th Legislature), bill historyhttps://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/30?Root=HB%20188

    Alaska Legislature · Published Feb 28, 2018 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Sponsor: Representative Kreiss-Tomkins alone. Introduced March 20, 2017. House Fisheries moved a committee version February 27, 2018; it stayed in Labor and Commerce.

    official legislative record

    For: Keeping fishing permits in Alaska communities

  20. CSHB 188(FSH) (2018), House Fisheries version (document)

    Alaska Legislature · Published Feb 28, 2018 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Creates up to three regional fisheries trusts that may acquire limited entry permits and transfer them to fishermen for up to six years. A trust may hold no more than 2.5% of a fishery's transferable permits in its region. Its list of who may not receive a trust permit (AS 16.44.080) has no Alaska residency rule.

    official legislative record

    For: Keeping fishing permits in Alaska communities

  21. House Journal, March 16, 2022, pages 2136-2137https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Journal/Pages/32?Chamber=H&Bill=HB%20234&Page=02136

    Alaska Legislature · Published Mar 16, 2022 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Roll call on final passage of CSHB 234(STA) am: 21 yeas, 18 nays, 1 excused. Kreiss-Tomkins is listed among the yeas.

    official legislative record

    For: Bringing back campaign contribution limits

  22. HB 234 (32nd Legislature), bill historyhttps://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/32?Root=HB%20234

    Alaska Legislature · Published Mar 18, 2022 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Sponsored by Representative Schrage. State Affairs reported it March 2, 2022 with do-pass votes from Claman and Kreiss-Tomkins. Passed the House 21-18 on March 16, 2022; it stayed in Senate State Affairs.

    official legislative record

    For: Bringing back campaign contribution limits

  23. CSHB 234(STA) am(efd fld) (2022), as passed by the House (document)

    Alaska Legislature · Published Mar 16, 2022 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Would set contribution limits, including $2,000 per campaign period from an individual to a candidate.

    official legislative record

    For: Bringing back campaign contribution limits

  24. Debate for the State, Alaska governor, October 8, 2026 (at 35:07)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWhiyir9eoI&t=2107s

    Alaska Public Media · Published Oct 8, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    The hosts' video of the live governor debate (Alaska Public Media, Alaska's News Source and KTOO). Kreiss-Tomkins says that as a legislator he went to North Pacific council meetings, pushed for less salmon and halibut bycatch, and wrote sign-on letters asking for lower bycatch caps and Anchorage Daily News op-eds. Described from YouTube's captions of the video, read on October 10, 2026; not quoted, because a second transcript to check the wording against was not available.

    candidate statement

    For: Pushing to cut trawl bycatch

  25. HR 6, Chinook bycatch limits (28th Legislature)https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/28?Root=HR%20%206

    Alaska Legislature · Published Mar 13, 2013 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    A House Fisheries Committee resolution asking the North Pacific council to lower Chinook salmon bycatch limits in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea pollock fisheries to at least half. The March 22, 2013 committee report lists Kreiss-Tomkins and Seaton as do pass; it was withdrawn on April 2, 2013.

    official legislative record

    For: Pushing to cut trawl bycatch

  26. Letter from 12 Alaska legislators to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council on Bering Sea halibut bycatch (document)

    Alaska legislators (copy posted by KMXT) · Published Apr 15, 2015 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    Dated April 15, 2015, on Alaska State Legislature letterhead. Asks the council to cut Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands halibut bycatch limits by 50 percent. Twelve legislators sign it, Kreiss-Tomkins among them. The copy is the one KMXT, Kodiak's public radio station, posted.

    official legislative record

    For: Pushing to cut trawl bycatch

  27. House Special Committee on Fisheries minutes, November 15, 2021 (document)

    Alaska Legislature · Published Nov 15, 2021 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    A hearing on bycatch. Kreiss-Tomkins, a committee member, asks the fish and game commissioner what the state needs before taking a position on the council's options for Bering Sea trawl bycatch, and whether the council should cap chum salmon bycatch.

    official legislative record

    For: Pushing to cut trawl bycatch

  28. 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

  29. 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

  30. 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

  31. 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