Why It Matters
The Alaska Department of Law has identified potential financial disclosure omissions across the state’s gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial races, raising questions about compliance standards ahead of the November election. The review impacts all four candidates for governor and three of the four running for lieutenant governor.
What Happened
Candidates for Alaska’s top executive offices have responded to a Department of Law report that cited possible failures in their financial disclosure filings. Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom addressed the findings during a Labor Day news conference, noting that similar errors appeared across multiple campaigns. Her comments followed her decision on September 4 to reverse an earlier disqualification of Republican gubernatorial candidate Treg Taylor.
In August, the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) had recommended removing Taylor from the ballot for failing to report rent-paying tenants. Dahlstrom initially disqualified him but later restored his candidacy, citing that other candidates exhibited comparable reporting issues. The Department of Law’s subsequent review expanded the scope of scrutiny to include all four governor candidates and three lieutenant governor candidates.
Republican Dave Bronson responded to the findings via email on Monday night. He emphasized that he and his running mate, Josh Church, take their disclosure obligations seriously but distinguished between intentional non-compliance and technical errors or accidental omissions. The Department of Law flagged Bronson for failing to disclose his management of Piper LLC, which he stated generates no income and holds his aircraft solely as an asset. Officials also noted his roles as director of the Bible Archaeology Search and Exploration Foundation in Arizona and the Alaska Governor’s Prayer Breakfast. Bronson said both positions were voluntary and unpaid, and that he resigned from the Prayer Breakfast before launching his campaign.
Bronson was also flagged for an undisclosed interest in an Eagle River property. He explained that he co-signed a mortgage for his son in 2025 but was removed from the deed in February of this year, receiving no compensation or financial gain from the arrangement. Regarding Church, the Department of Law cited a failure to disclose directorship of the Amanita Heights Subdivision Homeowners Association Inc., which Bronson said Church never held. Officials also flagged undisclosed interests in properties sold last year in Fairbanks and North Carolina. Bronson stated Church sold the North Carolina property around 2016 while serving in the Marines, and that the second property is listed on Church’s POFD and spans a city block with two known addresses.
Democratic Republican candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins responded Tuesday through campaign spokesperson Shannon Mason. The Department of Law flagged Kreiss-Tomkins for failing to disclose his directorship of Outer Coast in Sitka. He submitted an amended disclosure on Tuesday. His POFD lists Outer Coast as a tenant due to a tiny home he rents to staff and faculty. Mason said Kreiss-Tomkins received no compensation for board service, with disclosed income limited to rent. Officials also flagged his membership in Borealis LLC, tied to a Sitka property; Mason stated the LLC was dissolved in 2021.
The review also flagged Charity Horse Shows Inc. and Traders Point Hunt Club in connection with Kreiss-Tomkins’ running mate, Zac Johnson. Mason said those businesses were tied to Johnson’s late grandmother and generated no revenue at her passing. She stated Johnson worked with an attorney to dissolve the entities as part of settling the estate.
Republican strategist Joel Borgquist filed a complaint against Johnson with APOC, alleging failures to disclose income and rent-paying tenants at Indiana horse properties. Johnson filed a sworn affidavit with APOC stating the complaint is factually inaccurate, asserting he manages properties for his family and a trust and disclosed all generated income.
By the Numbers
4 — Number of governor candidates listed in the Department of Law report
3 — Number of lieutenant governor candidates flagged out of four total
Sep. 4 — Date Lt. Gov. Dahlstrom reversed Treg Taylor’s disqualification
2025 — Year Dave Bronson co-signed a mortgage for his son on an Eagle River property
February — Month Bronson was removed from the Eagle River property deed
Zoom Out
The financial disclosure controversy in Alaska mirrors broader national concerns about transparency in political campaigns. As candidates navigate complex asset structures, nonprofit affiliations, and family-held properties, state agencies face pressure to enforce consistent standards. The APOC’s initial recommendation to disqualify Taylor, followed by Dahlstrom’s reversal, highlights the tension between strict compliance enforcement and equitable treatment across all candidates.
Nationally, election integrity measures have drawn scrutiny from both parties, with advocates arguing for rigorous disclosure requirements while opponents warn against punitive actions based on technical errors. Alaska’s situation underscores the challenges of balancing accountability with fairness in high-stakes elections.
What’s Next
APOC may review additional complaints, including Borgquist’s allegations against Johnson, while voters weigh disclosure compliance alongside policy positions. The outcome of these reviews could influence perceptions of candidate transparency in Alaska’s tight gubernatorial race.