Bernadette Wilson chooses Wasilla senator as running mate in Alaska governor's race

Iris Samuels, Anchorage Daily News on Sep 10, 2025

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Republican candidate for governor Bernadette Wilson has chosen lieutenant governor candidate Mike Shower, a Republican state senator from Wasilla, as her running mate.

Announcing her choice at a campaign event Tuesday, Wilson, an Anchorage businesswoman and conservative activist who has never held elected office, became the first gubernatorial candidate to select a running mate ahead of the election, with 11 months to go before the primary.

Current Alaska Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy is termed out from seeking reelection, setting the stage for an open seat in 2026.

Other Republicans in the race include Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, former state Sen. Click Bishop, Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor Edna DeVries, former state Revenue Commissioner Adam Crum, Anchorage podiatrist Matt Heilala, Palmer state Sen. Shelley Hughes, Angoon resident James Parkin and Mat-Su resident Roger "Bruce" Walden.

Former state Sen. Tom Begich is the only Democrat in the race.

Shower, a commercial pilot and retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, was appointed to the state Senate in 2018 to fill the seat vacated by Dunleavy when he resigned to run for governor. He currently serves as leader of the six-member Senate minority caucus.

In a prepared statement, Shower said that "it is time that we seize our opportunity to bring lasting prosperity to our citizens by working with the Trump Administration to unlock our state, fix education, support our military personnel and veterans, and fully develop our incredible natural resources."

One of the primary roles of the lieutenant governor in Alaska is overseeing the state's elections.

Shower has in his time in the Senate repeatedly worked on bipartisan election reform that has failed to pass. His efforts have focused on putting restrictions on absentee voting, among other changes.

"Sen. Shower is well prepared to oversee our elections and ensure they are conducted fairly, transparently, and competently," Wilson said in a prepared statement.

On the same day that Shower filed to run for lieutenant governor, Republican state Rep. George Rauscher of Sutton announced he would run for the Senate seat currently occupied by Shower.