U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan endorsed Anchorage mayoral candidate Amy Demboski in a statement released by her campaign Thursday, and a Republican state senator from Anchorage, Lesil McGuire, came out in favor of Ethan Berkowitz in a radio ad that began running the same day.
Sullivan, a Republican, appeared at a fundraiser for Demboski earlier in April. He made his endorsement official Thursday.
"As a resident, homeowner, and property taxpayer in Anchorage with three daughters in public schools, I want a mayor who prioritizes public safety, education, and a sound fiscal future for our city," Sullivan said in the statement.
In the ad supporting Berkowitz, McGuire, who worked with Berkowitz in the Alaska Legislature, speaks directly to listeners. The ad was produced by Berkowitz for a Better Anchorage, a union-funded independent expenditure group.
"As a Republican, I want a mayor that gets the basics done right," McGuire says. "Good roads, great schools and strong public safety. In this election we can also have someone with vision and integrity and a proven record of bringing people together."
She describes Berkowitz as a "gifted public servant who will work with all sides" and a small business owner.
While the Anchorage mayor's race is officially nonpartisan, party politics usually surfaces in the campaign -- as it has in this one. Berkowitz is a Democrat, Demboski a Republican.