The filing deadline for governor has passed, and a sprawling slate of 17 candidates is off in the race to be Alaska's next governor.

Never one to do things by the book, Matt shares a very video game-y primer on the field based on his very scientific system of the Votable Index Based Entirely on Science (AKA VIBES).

Pat has thoughts, but luckily the VIBES tiers list is a living document.

The guys also talk about the Dan Sullivan dust-up and set up a proper way to cap off the legislative session. 

(4:31) Intro to Matt’s Votable Index Based Entirely on Science (VIBES) 

(8:04) Did Not Finish: Nancy Dahlstrom (R)

(8:39) D-Tier: Destry Payne (I), James Parkin (R), and Hank Kroll (R)  

(10:32) C-Tier: Bill Walker (I), Lesil McGuire (R), Matt Claman (D), Shelley Hughes (R), Adam Crum (R), Edna Devries (R)   

(20:37) B-Tier: Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D), Treg Taylor (R), Meda Dewitt (I), Matt Heilala (R) 

(31:25) A-Tier: Click Bishop (R), Dave Bronson (R)

(36:45) S-Tier: Tom Begich (D), Bernadette Wilson (R) 

(50:10) Other Election Updates: Two Dan Sullivans

VOTE! 

Click here to vote on the 2026 Noble and Not-so-Noble Legislative Session Awards. Voting closes midnight June 18! 

Related Links

Governor VIBES: Matt Buxton’s definitive way-too-early tier list of Alaska’s candidates for governor

AKLNG update: AKLNG’s proposed gas contract highlights the project’s underlying challenge: There just aren’t that many Alaskans

Tier Zoo: The Dog Tier List 

Surfing on St. Paul and St. George: A Surf Trip to a Remote Island in Alaska's Deadly Bering Sea  

Contact Info

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Credits

Hello Alaska with Matt & Pat is an Alaska Current podcast. This show was edited by Dave Waldron and our theme music is from I Wish I Were a Real Alaskan Girl by Marian Call.

Thanks for listening!