Alaska Elects Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, Its First Democratic Governor Since 1998, Amid National Midterm Wave

What happened

Alaska voters have chosen a Democrat for governor for the first time since 1998, CBS News reported. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, a former state lawmaker, defeated three Republicans, one of whom had been endorsed by President Trump.

Kreiss-Tomkins, 37, declared victory in a statement earlier Friday. He said voters wanted change and a government that works across party lines, and added, "Our administration will not waste a single day getting to work to solve problems for Alaska."

How the result fits the national picture

According to CBS News, the Alaska win was part of a national midterm wave that gave Democrats sweeping wins in state governments. With this result, Democrats will hold the governor's office in 30 states. Readers following election coverage can find more on this cycle's results.

States that flipped

CBS News reported that the 30 states include several Democrats flipped after years of Republican control. Among them are Iowa, Georgia, Ohio and Texas. The outlet did not list every state that changed hands.

Who is Kreiss-Tomkins

Kreiss-Tomkins, often called JKT, completed what CBS News described as a political comeback three years after he left the state House. He traveled across Alaska to build a coalition of supporters. He said his campaign drew more than 10,000 donors.

Campaign platform

His campaign centered on affordability, CBS News reported. He supported full funding of public schools and called for all oil and gas producers to pay corporate income tax. He also sought a moratorium on new data centers until state lawmakers pass rules for how they are developed.

Criticism of the outgoing administration

Kreiss-Tomkins said Alaska had become "broken" during eight years under outgoing Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy. He pointed to the state ferry system, which he said had been left in shambles, with routes to many communities cut sharply. CBS News noted the ferry is a key way to travel for southeast Alaska communities that are not connected by roads, some of which also have limited air service.

Endorsements across party lines

Kreiss-Tomkins stressed a willingness to work with both parties and said he wanted a Cabinet that includes Republicans, Democrats and independents. At a candidate forum last month, he said, "If they're competent, if they're service-minded, if they're entrepreneurial, if they're problem-solvers, you're on the team."

Support from Murkowski and former governors

Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who has at times disagreed with her party and with Trump, endorsed him a week before the election. She said he "understands that governing requires listening to people with different perspectives and finding common ground to solve the problems all of us face," according to CBS News.

Three former Alaska governors also backed him, CBS News reported. They were Democrat Tony Knowles, independent Bill Walker and Republican Frank Murkowski, who is the senator's father. More national stories are collected in our Nation section.

What to watch next

• Whether Kreiss-Tomkins names a Cabinet with Republicans, Democrats and independents, as he said he wanted.
• Whether state lawmakers take up regulations for data centers, which he tied to his proposed moratorium on new ones.
• How his administration approaches the state ferry system, which he said had seen routes cut drastically under Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
• Action on his campaign calls for full public school funding and a corporate income tax on all oil and gas producers.