Bernadette Wilson
 | The topic of this article may not meet Wikitia's general notability guideline. |
Bernadette Wilson | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1983/1984 (age 42–43) Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Relatives | Wally Hickel (great-uncle) |
Bernadette Wilson (born 1983/1984)[1] is an American conservative activist, business owner, and political candidate in Alaska. She announced her candidacy for governor of Alaska on May 13, 2025, on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. Wilson has been active in Alaska conservative politics since 2010 and has held leadership roles in multiple policy organizations and political campaigns.[2]
Early life and background
Wilson is an Alaska Native and was born in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska.[3] She is the great-niece of former Alaska Governor Wally Hickel and is a member of the Naknek Native Village Council. Her grandmother was born in Naknek, Alaska. Wilson is a mother of three and a small business owner. She is the majority owner of Denali Disposal, an Anchorage-based waste management company founded in 2016.
Political activism and career
Wilson has been involved in conservative political activism in Alaska since 2010, when she led the successful campaign for Alaska Ballot Measure 2, a voter initiative requiring parental notification before abortions are performed on minors.[4] She later served as campaign manager for Joe Miller's 2010 U.S. Senate campaign, in which Miller defeated incumbent Senator Lisa Murkowski in the Republican primary. Murkowski subsequently won the general election as a write-in candidate. Wilson was also a lead advisor in the successful mayoral campaign of Dan Sullivan in Anchorage and served as a senior advisor on Rep. Nick Begich III's congressional campaign.
Wilson served as the Alaska director for Americans for Prosperity–Alaska, where she led efforts to repeal Alaska's ranked-choice voting system.[5] She later served as interim executive director of the Alaska Policy Forum.
She co-hosted a talk radio show with Democrat Ethan Berkowitz until 2015 and organized protests in 2020 opposing Anchorage's COVID-19 public health restrictions, including business shutdowns.[6]
2026 gubernatorial campaign
Wilson announced her candidacy for governor in May 2025, presenting herself as a political outsider despite her long involvement in conservative activism and policy organizations.[7]
She has emphasized her lack of government bureaucratic experience, drawing comparisons to figures such as Ronald Reagan, Wally Hickel, Donald Trump, and Nick Begich.[8]
In addition to her gubernatorial campaign, Wilson is actively campaigning for a 2026 ballot initiative seeking to repeal Alaska's open primaries and ranked-choice voting system. She is one of three co-sponsors of the initiative.
Running mate and endorsements
In September 2025, Wilson selected former Alaska State Senator Mike Shower of Wasilla as her running mate.[9]
She has been endorsed by U.S. Representative Byron Donalds of Florida.[10]
Personal life
Wilson lives in Anchorage, Alaska. She is a business owner and mother of three. Her family owns multiple long-standing Alaska-based businesses.
References
- ↑ https://www.adn.com/politics/2026/07/24/hickel-descendants-ask-bernadette-wilson-to-stop-using-former-governors-image-in-her-campaign/
- ↑ Stone, Eric (May 14, 2025). "Conservative activist Bernadette Wilson joins 2026 Alaska governor's race". Alaska Public Media.
- ↑ https://alaskabeacon.com/2025/05/14/third-republican-candidate-bernadette-wilson-enters-alaska-governors-race/
- ↑ "Alaska Ballot Measure 2, Parental Notification of Abortion Initiative (August 2010)". Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Komosinski, Stacia (September 9, 2021). "Americans for Prosperity Announces New State Director".
- ↑ "Bernadette Wilson announces GOP bid for Alaska governor | Fox News Video". Fox News. May 14, 2025.
- ↑ https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/2025-05-13/conservative-activist-bernadette-wilson-joins-2026-alaska-governors-race
- ↑ "Bernadette Wilson". Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Media, Alaska Public; Stone, Eric; Juneau, Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media- (September 10, 2025). "Republican Bernadette Wilson picks Wasilla Sen. Mike Shower as running mate in governor's race".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com.
External links
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