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JUNEAU, Alaska — <\/span>Democrat Tom Begich has withdrawn from Alaska’s governor’s race, throwing his support behind fellow Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins<\/a> for a seat the party hopes to flip in November.<\/p>\n Begich finished just behind Kreiss-Tomkins in a crowded Aug. 18 primary that included 12 Republicans and some independents. Under Alaska’s election system<\/a>, the top four finishers, regardless of party, advance to the ranked vote general election in November.<\/p>\n Monday was the final day for candidates to withdraw from the ballot. Begich’s decision leaves Kreiss-Tomkins as the only Democrat on the ballot, giving the party what it sees as a strong opportunity to elect Alaska’s first Democratic governor in nearly 25 years.<\/p>\n Begich’s campaign late Friday released a statement saying he and running mate Julia Hnilicka were suspending their campaign and endorsing Kreiss-Tomkins, who had finished with the most votes during the primary. The statement said the Begich campaign had raised more than $1.3 million but continuing would require millions more.<\/p>\n It also said that after reviewing internal data and data provided by Kreiss-Tomkins’ campaign, Begich and Hnilicka concluded \u201cthat the strongest path to victory is to bring Democratic voters, donors and resources together behind one candidate.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRather than competing over visions that share so much in common, we are choosing to put our strength behind a shared vision for Alaska,” Begich said.<\/p>\n Those priorities include full and stable funding for public education, addressing housing, health care and energy costs, and ensuring that Alaska receives a \u201cfair share\u201d from the development of its oil and gas resources. That generally means support of raising taxes on those industries.<\/p>\n Kreiss-Tomkins in a statement told Begich supporters he would make it his campaign’s mission to earn their backing and champion those priorities.<\/p>\n \u201cTo hell with political infighting,” he said. \u201cLet\u2019s build a future made in Alaska.\u201d<\/p>\n The Alaska Democratic Party said state Democrats are in \u201clockstep\u201d and intend to win. The last Democrat to serve as governor in Alaska was Tony Knowles, who served consecutive terms from 1994 to 2002.<\/p>\n A Division of Elections spokesperson confirmed Begich had withdrawn.<\/p>\n The highest-finishing Republicans in the primary were Bernadette Wilson, a conservative activist and business owner, and Dave Bronson, a former mayor of Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city. The Wilson and Bronson campaigns did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Monday, nor did the chair of the state Republican Party.<\/p>\n Treg Taylor, a former state attorney general, finished fifth in the vote tally. But Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, a fellow Republican, decertified his candidacy Monday after the state’s campaign finance commission recommended that step. The commission found that Taylor did not \u201csubstantially comply\u201d with financial disclosure requirements. His campaign did not respond to a message seeking comment. <\/p>\n His running mate for lieutenant governor, Candi English, was then elevated on the ticket and chose Taylor\u2019s wife, Jodi Taylor, as her running mate for lieutenant governor. A message seeking comment was sent to the campaign.<\/p>\n It was not immediately clear when a final candidate list would be posted by the Division of Elections.<\/p>\n Alaska’s current governor, Republican Mike Dunleavy, is barred by term limits from seeking a third consecutive term.<\/p>\n Begich is part of an Alaska political family long known for its Democratic Party ties. His father, the late U.S. Rep. Nick Begich, was declared dead after a small plane he was riding in with then-House Majority Leader Hale Boggs disappeared during a 1972 campaign trip in Alaska. His brother, Mark Begich, served one term in the U.S. Senate. <\/p>\n Tom Begich was known during his time in the state Legislature for a willingness to work across party lines.<\/p>\n