U.S. Democratic Party recaptures Alaska governor... Pay attention to whether this will be a variable in Korea’s LNG investment.

The U.S. Democratic Party reaffirmed its landslide victory in the midterm elections by electing the governor of Alaska.

According to the Associated Press on the 13th (local time), Jonathan Kreis-Tompkins (37), the Democratic candidate for Alaska governor, defeated three Republican candidates as a result of the vote count in the Alaska gubernatorial election held on the 3rd.

Alaska adopts a method in which the top four candidates in the primary election advance to the general election, regardless of political party.

This is the first time since 1998 that a Democratic governor has been elected in Alaska. In addition, the 37-year-old will become the youngest governor in Alaska history if he takes office.

The U.S. NBC broadcast evaluated the victory of candidate Kreis-Tomkins as having once again confirmed the Democratic Party's performance in this midterm election.

The Democratic Party recaptured the governorships of six states in this election and will occupy governorships in 30 states next year.

New Governor Kreis Tompkins, a former member of the Alaska State House of Representatives, made easing the cost of living burden a major pledge, and to this end, he called for full funding of public schools and payment of corporate taxes for oil and gas producers.

In addition, like Democratic governors elected in other regions this time, he called for a moratorium on new data center construction until the state legislature passes regulations on data center development.

Kreis-Tompkins said in a statement that voters want change and that they "want a government that transcends partisanship to move Alaska forward."

“We will not waste a single day trying to solve Alaska’s problems,” he added.

As candidate Kreis-Tomkins confirms his election as governor, attention is focused on what impact this will have on Korea's Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) investment plan, which is being pressured by U.S. President Donald Trump.

First of all, he is not opposed to the development of Alaskan energy projects per se, but is emphasizing his position that the related benefits should go to residents and that economic feasibility should also be considered.

On September 30, after President Trump unilaterally announced the construction of a Texas gas power plant, eight large nuclear power plants, and the development of Alaskan liquefied natural gas (LNG) as areas of Korea's investment projects in the United States, the new Governor Kreis-Tomkins said in a statement, "I am very pleased with President Trump's support and Korea's interest," and added, "I will cooperate with anyone who wants to promote Alaskan interests and improve the lives of Alaskans."

However, he emphasized, “We cannot build a gas pipeline that causes Alaskans to bear energy costs that they cannot afford, while allowing the benefits to flow elsewhere.”

He said, “If we are going to pursue the largest infrastructure project in Alaska’s history, it should be built by Alaskans,” and also argued that local workers should be hired first.

President Trump and the Republican Party expected Alaska to improve the trade balance by expanding U.S. fossil fuel exports, but the Democratic Party has taken a cautious and critical stance in that it could encourage the deepening of climate change by solidifying greenhouse gas emissions.