# Four candidates, three answers. No law yet. > Four candidates for Alaska governor gave three answers on data centers. A 20,000-acre land decision may not wait for the winner. Published 2026-11-03 by Alaska AI. 9 slides. Canonical: https://alaskaaihq.com/archive/2026-11-03/ ## The story Pause. Never hyperscale. Believer. Embrace. Four candidates. Three answers. An early count. Not a result. With 11% of precincts in, Kreiss-Tomkins led with 55%, Wilson 28%, Bronson 11%, Taylor 6%. If nobody tops 50%, ranked choice decides it November 18th. "It's certainly possible." Under subpoena, DNR's commissioner was asked if the 20,000-acre Houston transfer to AIDEA could be decided before December 7th. The district could include data centers. AIDEA has maintained they're unlikely there. Up to a dozen. None awarded as of September 15th. The Pentagon wants up to a dozen data centers near Anchorage, Healy and Fairbanks and has offered to lease about 4,700 acres to private companies. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she is "not a proponent," citing "an insecure energy base." "Our largest concern is that nobody asked us." The Senate passed it 14 to 5. The House never took it up. Even the pause has a condition, a moratorium "until the Legislature can pass a comprehensive regulatory framework." This year a data center bill passed the Senate. The session ended without a House vote. On the desk at noon, December 7th. Law first, or land first? Make the case in the comments. ## What we verified - The Alaska Constitution sets the governor's four-year term to begin at noon on the first Monday in December after the election. [Constitution of the State of Alaska, Article III, Section 4 (Wikisource transcription)](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_State_of_Alaska), primary document, 2026-11-03. - The University of Alaska Board of Regents meets November 4th through 6th on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. [University of Alaska (news release via EIN Presswire)](https://www.einpresswire.com/article/954337159/university-of-alaska-board-of-regents-to-continue-strategic-future-investments-at-november-board-meeting), primary document, 2026-11-03. - UA Chief Information Technology Officer Ben Shier will present the latest version of UA's AI Engaged effort to the regents. [University of Alaska (news release via EIN Presswire)](https://www.einpresswire.com/article/954337159/university-of-alaska-board-of-regents-to-continue-strategic-future-investments-at-november-board-meeting), primary document, 2026-11-03. - UA's AI Engaged statement establishes six guiding principles. [University of Alaska (news release via EIN Presswire)](https://www.einpresswire.com/article/954337159/university-of-alaska-board-of-regents-to-continue-strategic-future-investments-at-november-board-meeting), primary document, 2026-11-03. - UA's AI Engaged statement establishes four investment priorities. [University of Alaska (news release via EIN Presswire)](https://www.einpresswire.com/article/954337159/university-of-alaska-board-of-regents-to-continue-strategic-future-investments-at-november-board-meeting), primary document, 2026-11-03. - UA's AI Engaged statement establishes five system-wide expectations. [University of Alaska (news release via EIN Presswire)](https://www.einpresswire.com/article/954337159/university-of-alaska-board-of-regents-to-continue-strategic-future-investments-at-november-board-meeting), primary document, 2026-11-03. - UA says AI Engaged preserves UAA, UAF and UAS responsibility for curriculum, academic integrity and faculty instructional judgment. [University of Alaska (news release via EIN Presswire)](https://www.einpresswire.com/article/954337159/university-of-alaska-board-of-regents-to-continue-strategic-future-investments-at-november-board-meeting), primary document, 2026-11-03. - With 11% of precincts reporting on election night, Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins led the first-round count for Alaska governor with 55% of the vote. [Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-11-03/democrat-jonathan-kreiss-tomkins-leads-in-alaska-governors-race), report, 2026-11-03. - In the same early count, Republican Bernadette Wilson was second with 28%. [Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-11-03/democrat-jonathan-kreiss-tomkins-leads-in-alaska-governors-race), report, 2026-11-03. - In the same early count, Republican Dave Bronson was third with 11%. [Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-11-03/democrat-jonathan-kreiss-tomkins-leads-in-alaska-governors-race), report, 2026-11-03. - In the same early count, Republican Treg Taylor was fourth with 6%. [Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-11-03/democrat-jonathan-kreiss-tomkins-leads-in-alaska-governors-race), report, 2026-11-03. - The Anchorage Daily News reported Kreiss-Tomkins at 55.3% of first-choice votes as of 8:40 p.m., with 45 of 400 precincts reporting. [Anchorage Daily News](https://www.adn.com/politics/2026/11/03/democrat-kreiss-tomkins-takes-early-lead-in-alaska-governors-race-as-ballot-counting-begins/), report, 2026-11-03. - The Anchorage Daily News reported just over 65,000 ballots counted as of Tuesday evening. [Anchorage Daily News](https://www.adn.com/politics/2026/11/03/democrat-kreiss-tomkins-takes-early-lead-in-alaska-governors-race-as-ballot-counting-begins/), report, 2026-11-03. - The Anchorage Daily News reported that Kreiss-Tomkins would become Alaska's first Democratic governor since 2002 if he keeps his lead. [Anchorage Daily News](https://www.adn.com/politics/2026/11/03/democrat-kreiss-tomkins-takes-early-lead-in-alaska-governors-race-as-ballot-counting-begins/), report, 2026-11-03. - If no governor candidate wins more than 50% in the first round, the race will be decided by ranked choice voting on November 18th. [Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-11-03/democrat-jonathan-kreiss-tomkins-leads-in-alaska-governors-race), report, 2026-11-03. - The winner of the governor's race is set to take office at noon on December 7th. [Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-11-03/democrat-jonathan-kreiss-tomkins-leads-in-alaska-governors-race), report, 2026-11-03. - Election officials plan to certify the general election by November 25th. [Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-11-02/alaska-counts-ballots-slowly-heres-what-to-expect-on-election-night-and-beyond), report, 2026-11-02. - Based on historical trends, results reported on election night in Alaska tend to represent around 70% of the overall vote. [Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-11-02/alaska-counts-ballots-slowly-heres-what-to-expect-on-election-night-and-beyond), report, 2026-11-02. - Kreiss-Tomkins said at a September 8th forum in Anchorage that he supports a moratorium on data center development in Alaska until the Legislature passes a regulatory framework. [Alaska Beacon, republished by Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-09-21/where-do-alaskas-four-governor-candidates-stand-on-data-centers), report, 2026-09-21. - Wilson said by text message that she would never allow Alaska to be littered with hyperscale data centers. [Alaska Beacon, republished by Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-09-21/where-do-alaskas-four-governor-candidates-stand-on-data-centers), report, 2026-09-21. - Bronson said he is a big believer in data centers. [Alaska Beacon, republished by Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-09-21/where-do-alaskas-four-governor-candidates-stand-on-data-centers), report, 2026-09-21. - Taylor said of data centers that Alaska needs to embrace it. [Alaska Beacon, republished by Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-09-21/where-do-alaskas-four-governor-candidates-stand-on-data-centers), report, 2026-09-21. - Taylor said data centers can produce a net savings to Alaska ratepayers. [Alaska Beacon, republished by Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-09-21/where-do-alaskas-four-governor-candidates-stand-on-data-centers), report, 2026-09-21. - Kreiss-Tomkins said in Fairbanks in mid-October that he thinks Alaska should pause on data centers. [KUAC via Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/alaska-desk/2026-10-15/in-fairbanks-interior-secretary-burgum-touts-deregulation-and-data-centers), report, 2026-10-15. - Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in Fairbanks on October 14th that people want to drop 10 billion on a data center without tax breaks. [KUAC via Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/alaska-desk/2026-10-15/in-fairbanks-interior-secretary-burgum-touts-deregulation-and-data-centers), report, 2026-10-15. - The Alaska Senate voted 14 to 5 this year to pass a data center bill. [Alaska Beacon, republished by Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-09-21/where-do-alaskas-four-governor-candidates-stand-on-data-centers), report, 2026-09-21. - The Alaska House did not take up the Senate-passed data center bill before the legislative session ended. [Alaska Beacon, republished by Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-09-21/where-do-alaskas-four-governor-candidates-stand-on-data-centers), report, 2026-09-21. - The Pentagon has offered to lease about 4,700 acres of government land in Alaska to private companies for data centers. [KUAC and American Homefront Project via Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/alaska-desk/2026-09-15/forget-jets-and-helicopters-data-centers-could-be-alaska-military-towns-next-noisy-neighbors), report, 2026-09-15. - The Pentagon wants up to a dozen new military data centers near Anchorage, Healy and Fairbanks. [KUAC and American Homefront Project via Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/alaska-desk/2026-09-15/forget-jets-and-helicopters-data-centers-could-be-alaska-military-towns-next-noisy-neighbors), report, 2026-09-15. - As of September 15th, no Alaska military data center lease projects had been awarded. [KUAC and American Homefront Project via Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/alaska-desk/2026-09-15/forget-jets-and-helicopters-data-centers-could-be-alaska-military-towns-next-noisy-neighbors), report, 2026-09-15. - Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she is not a proponent of data centers at JBER or Alaska's Interior military installations, citing an insecure energy base. [KUAC and American Homefront Project via Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/alaska-desk/2026-09-15/forget-jets-and-helicopters-data-centers-could-be-alaska-military-towns-next-noisy-neighbors), report, 2026-09-15. - DNR Commissioner John Crowther appeared before the Senate Resources Committee under a rare legislative subpoena. [Alaska Beacon, republished by Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/alaska-legislature/2026-10-28/alaska-legislators-press-natural-resources-commissioner-on-no-cost-state-land-transfers), report, 2026-10-28. - Asked whether DNR could decide the 20,000-acre Mat-Su transfer before a new governor takes office December 7th, Crowther said it is certainly possible. [Alaska Beacon, republished by Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/alaska-legislature/2026-10-28/alaska-legislators-press-natural-resources-commissioner-on-no-cost-state-land-transfers), report, 2026-10-28. - The state could transfer 20,000 acres near Houston to AIDEA for a proposed industrial and energy district that could include data center development. [Alaska Beacon, republished by Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/alaska-legislature/2026-10-28/alaska-legislators-press-natural-resources-commissioner-on-no-cost-state-land-transfers), report, 2026-10-28. - DNR is reviewing more than 2,100 public comments before a final decision on the Mat-Su transfer. [Alaska Beacon, republished by Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/alaska-legislature/2026-10-28/alaska-legislators-press-natural-resources-commissioner-on-no-cost-state-land-transfers), report, 2026-10-28. - AIDEA officials have maintained that data centers are unlikely in the Mat-Su development because it lacks a reliable energy source. [Alaska Beacon, republished by Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/alaska-legislature/2026-10-28/alaska-legislators-press-natural-resources-commissioner-on-no-cost-state-land-transfers), report, 2026-10-28. - Another 885 acres at Port MacKenzie are slated for no-cost transfer to AIDEA. [Alaska Beacon, republished by Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/alaska-legislature/2026-10-28/alaska-legislators-press-natural-resources-commissioner-on-no-cost-state-land-transfers), report, 2026-10-28. - Kreiss-Tomkins had raised $1.8 million for his governor campaign by late July. [Anchorage Daily News via Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-07-24/democrat-in-alaskas-governor-race-reports-1-8-million-fundraising-haul-driven-by-californians), report, 2026-07-24. - Six Anthropic employees collectively gave Kreiss-Tomkins $372,000, making them among his top contributors. [Anchorage Daily News via Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-07-24/democrat-in-alaskas-governor-race-reports-1-8-million-fundraising-haul-driven-by-californians), report, 2026-07-24. - Kreiss-Tomkins's largest contribution, $100,000, came from an Anthropic employee. [Anchorage Daily News via Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-07-24/democrat-in-alaskas-governor-race-reports-1-8-million-fundraising-haul-driven-by-californians), report, 2026-07-24. - Alaska's U.S. Senate race has drawn more money from employees of AI companies than any other 2026 Senate race, according to Stanford student journalists published by the Alaska Beacon. [Alaska Beacon](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03. - At least 19 AI-company employees contributed approximately $119,000 to the campaigns of Sen. Dan Sullivan and Mary Peltola. [Alaska Beacon](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03. - Peltola received at least $56,000 from AI-company employees, nearly all of it from Anthropic employees. [Alaska Beacon](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03. - Sullivan received approximately $63,000 from AI-company employees for his campaign. [Alaska Beacon](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03. - Another $35,000 in AI-company employee money went to Sullivan's leadership PAC, True North. [Alaska Beacon](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03. - About 150 Fairbanks residents attended a data center town hall at the Wedgewood Resort on Thursday night, October 29th. [Alaska's News Source (KTUU/KTVF)](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/10/31/data-center-concerns-top-mind-fairbanks-town-hall/), report, 2026-10-30. - Legislators Scott Kawasaki, Maxine Dibert, Mike Prax and David Guttenberg attended the Fairbanks town hall. [Alaska's News Source (KTUU/KTVF)](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/10/31/data-center-concerns-top-mind-fairbanks-town-hall/), report, 2026-10-30. - Town hall organizer Sarah Hollister said the community's largest concern is that nobody asked them. [Alaska's News Source (KTUU/KTVF)](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/10/31/data-center-concerns-top-mind-fairbanks-town-hall/), report, 2026-10-30. - UAA associate professors Gregory Hartley and Joel Potter wrote in an Anchorage Daily News opinion piece that Anthropic's Claude generated the initial draft of UA's AI plan, a fact they say was concealed until October 9th. [Anchorage Daily News (opinion)](https://www.adn.com/opinions/2026/11/03/opinion-who-wrote-uas-ai-plan-a-chatbot-did/), report, 2026-11-03. - According to the same op-ed, the UA Board of Regents will vote on November 5th on the AI plan. [Anchorage Daily News (opinion)](https://www.adn.com/opinions/2026/11/03/opinion-who-wrote-uas-ai-plan-a-chatbot-did/), report, 2026-11-03. Slides and the deck PDF are linked from the canonical page.