Alaska Governor Race: Radio Host Wilson Bets Big on Energy, Slams Ranked Choice Voting

Bernadette Wilson, a former radio host and lifelong Alaskan, is shaking up the 2026 race for governor with a bold focus on energy and a firm stance against ranked choice voting. In an exclusive chat with WTFNewsRoom, Wilson, whose great-uncle Wally Hickel once led the state, shared her vision for Alaska’s future, rooted in her entrepreneurial grit and deep family ties to the Last Frontier.

Energy as Alaska’s Economic Engine
Wilson, who runs a thriving garbage company, sees energy as the cornerstone of Alaska’s prosperity. She’s eager to partner with the Trump administration to unleash a domestic energy boom, criticizing the Biden era for sanctioning Alaska more harshly than some rogue nations. "We can lead the nation in energy production," she declared, pointing to the state’s vast resources as a potential cure for America’s economic woes.

Ranked Choice Voting: A Voter’s Nightmare
A vocal critic of ranked choice voting, Wilson argues it confuses and disenfranchises Alaskans. Blaming the system for electing Democrat Mary Peltola in a ruby-red state, she calls its removal "mission-critical." Her stance aligns with conservatives who see the process as a barrier to clear electoral outcomes, though some Republicans elsewhere credit it for strategic wins.

Cross-Border Dreams and Political Roots
Wilson’s Alaskan roots run deep, from her Kenai Peninsula birthplace to her grandfather’s role in building Anchorage. She’s also eyeing infrastructure, like a railroad through Canada, to boost Alaska’s economy, even as U.S.-Canada tariff spats simmer. Facing Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom and State Sen. Click Bishop, Wilson’s outsider status and radio-honed charisma make her a wildcard in this high-stakes race.