Seventeen candidate pairs competed in the primaries on Tuesday to secure a spot in the November general election. This election will elect the new governor and lieutenant governor to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Michael Dunleavy.

Former state Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins and his running mate Zac Johnson emerged with the highest votes. They were followed by former Democratic state Sen. Tom Begich and Julia Hnilicks. These pairs advance to the general election along with two other pairs.

Prominent figures appeared among the 34 contenders for these executive roles. Heading into the election, Tom Begich took the lead. His family has long been central to Alaska politics. His father, Rep. Nick Begich Sr., served from 1962 until a plane crash, alongside Hale Boggs, on a trip between Anchorage and Juneau. The Begich family remains deeply involved in politics, with most identifying as Democrats except for Rep. Nick Begich III, a Republican.

Bernadette Wilson, a business owner and leading Republican candidate, teams up with Michael Shower. Her family has resided in Alaska for generations. Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, another potential Republican contender, exited the race in June. Michael Loren Gilbert, also a Republican on the ballot, promotes the expansion of Alaska’s energy sector and the idea of a highway to the Lower 48. His running mate, Timothy Hickel, comes from a notable political family. Hickel’s father, Wally Hickel, was a former governor and U.S. interior secretary.

David Bronson, former Anchorage mayor, stands as another leading candidate with Josh Church. Another entrant, former state Sen. Click Bishop, runs alongside Greta Schuerch. Ranked-choice voting remains in use during Alaska’s general elections, allowing voters to prioritize candidates. Votes shift in sequential rounds if no candidate secures an outright majority. The departure of Gov. Dunleavy could allow Democrats like Tom Begich a chance to capture the governor’s office. Begich III previously defeated Mary Peltola after she had momentarily filled the seat of the late Rep. Don Young.