Gubernatorial candidate Dave Bronson has announced that Fairbanks Marine turned financial professional, Josh Church, is his running mate for lieutenant governor.
Bronson made the announcement during a Jan. 14 event in Fairbanks, presenting Church as the man who will help unify the ticket around leadership, service, fiscal discipline and a restoration of trust in Alaska’s election system.
Bronson, who previously served as mayor of Anchorage, emphasized that his selection was based on shared values, complementary experience and a “commitment to governing – not politics.”
“I wasn’t looking for a political prop,” Bronson said. “I was looking for a partner and someone who understands service, accountability, and what it means to do the work. Josh Church brings integrity, discipline, and the financial expertise Alaska needs right now. This isn’t just a ticket, it’s a team built to govern.”
Bronson highlighted Church’s record of executive leadership, including managing budgets, overseeing large organizations and making difficult decisions during periods of crisis. He underscored that Alaska needs leaders who prioritize results over rhetoric and people over politics. He referred to him as “Alaska’s JD Vance.”
Church is a lifelong Alaskan, Marine Corps Special Operations Combat Veteran, a financial professional and a resource development leader. He spoke about his decision to join the Bronson ticket – framing the race as a choice about Alaska’s future rather than just politics as usual.
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“Service is not convenient,” Church said. “I’ve seen what happens when leadership avoids hard decisions, both overseas and here at home. Alaska is at a crossroads, and this election is about whether we reverse decline and restore opportunity for the next generation.”
Church outlined his broad priorities, emphasizing election integrity, transparency and public trust. He pledged to work within the law to strengthen Alaska’s election systems and ensure results that are secure, verifiable and timely.
“Election integrity is not political, it’s foundational,” he said. “When people lose trust in elections, everything else begins to fail. Alaska deserves elections that are transparent, auditable and worthy of public confidence.”
