14-05-2025
Conservative activist and former radio host files to run for Alaska governor
May 13—JUNEAU — Bernadette Wilson, a conservative activist, business owner and former radio host, filed to run as a Republican for Alaska governor in the 2026 election.
Wilson, a lifelong Alaskan, has not held elected office, but she has experience in Alaska politics. She was campaign manager in 2010 for a ballot initiative requiring parental notification for abortions, and is a sponsor of another initiative to repeal ranked choice voting. She is also the president of waste management company Denali Disposal Inc.
She is the grand-niece of former Alaska Gov. Walter J. "Wally" Hickel and is of Aleut heritage, according to an announcement from her campaign on Tuesday.
Wilson said her priorities include getting infrastructure and roads built and addressing "bloat" in the budget with a high number of public employees in Alaska. She launched her campaign Tuesday on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol. She joked that was the "belly of the beast."
Wilson is the third Republican candidate to file a letter of intent to run in the gubernatorial election next year — the first step to formally starting a campaign. Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom and former Fairbanks state Sen. Click Bishop both filed to run for governor earlier in the month.
