Wasilla Republican runs for governor; wants 'real change'

JUNEAU (AP) — A conservative Republican freshman state legislator announced plans Monday to run for governor, joining a field that includes Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, former independent Gov. Bill Walker and former Anchorage Democratic state lawmaker Les Gara.

Rep. Christopher Kurka, of Wasilla, announced his plans in a video on social media in which he levied criticisms at Dunleavy.

“The dirty little secret of Juneau and Washington, D.C., is that while most conservative officials talk tough about Republican ideals, very few have the intestinal fortitude, moral compass or even the intent to take the principled stand necessary to accomplish any real change,” he said.

Alaska “is awash in Big Pharma-manipulated federal blood money,” used to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations and deter use of alternate treatments, Kurka said in his video. As a first-year House member, he spoke out against face mask mandates and questioned the science behind their effectiveness.

In a separate video on Monday, former U.S. Senate candidate Joe Miller endorsed Kurka, saying Dunleavy has “waved the white flag of surrender” by failing to cut state spending.

Recently adopted redistricting maps put Kurka in the same legislative district as conservative state Rep. David Eastman, requiring that the two incumbents run against each other unless one moves into another district or decides not to run for the seat.

Next year’s gubernatorial election will be unlike any other for Alaskans. Voters last year approved a new elections process to end party primaries and institute ranked-choice voting in general elections. The top four vote-getters in the August open primary will advance to the general election in November, regardless of party affiliation.

Voters in November will rank their choices among the four. If a candidate wins more than 50% of the vote in the general election, they would be declared the winner. If no one passes 50%, the Nos. 3 and 4 finishers would be eliminated from the tally and ballots cast for them would go to the voters’ second choices. The intent is that the winner would have the support of a majority of voters, even if the candidate is not their first choice.

In the past, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor would run separately in their own primaries, with the party winners getting paired for the general election. Under the new system, candidates run as pairs from the start. Kurka did not announce his running mate.