IBEW 1547 Dual Endorses Begich and Bishop
This dual nod allows IBEW to safely guide two fiercely pro-labor candidates through the primary gauntlet without alienating a single faction of its membership.
Leave it to organized labor to look at a crowded primary field and decide that picking just one candidate is for rookies. Yesterday, IBEW Local 1547 dropped a dual endorsement for the 2026 Governor’s race, throwing their weight behind both Democrat Tom Begich and non-MAGA Republican Click Bishop.
By backing both candidates, IBEW is essentially telling its 4,200 members to choose their own adventure based on their partisan leanings, as long as they pick a union cardholder.
Begich brings the ultimate home-court advantage as a proud 35-year member of IBEW Local 1547. On the flip side, Bishop has a 51-year history with IUOE Local 302. Bishop is a rare breed in the more modern political landscape. He is a mostly sane Republican who understands the boring, necessary mechanics of state government, a far cry from the loud, deranged MAGA fringe currently dominating the field. He also served as Labor Commissioner before being elected to the state Senate.
This dual nod allows IBEW to safely guide two fiercely pro-labor candidates through the primary gauntlet without alienating a single faction of its membership.
Business Manager Doug Tansy and President Cecil Colley III get to play nice with everyone for the next couple of months while keeping their powder dry, explicitly stating they will evaluate the primary results before crowning a single favorite for the November general election.
It is clever, safe, and peak Alaska politics.
