Politics

White House communications director with ties to Alaska has resigned

WASHINGTON — White House Communications Director Mike Dubke, who has long ties to Alaska, has resigned.

Dubke and a White House spokesperson confirmed Tuesday to Alaska Dispatch News that Dubke handed in his resignation on May 18, exactly three months from the day when word leaked that he'd be leading the White House communications staff.

Dubke said he is not sure when his last day at the White House will be.

Dubke operated as a key campaign and fundraising consultant for Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan. After Dubke joined the White House staff, Murkowski and Sullivan quickly got a meeting with President Donald Trump to discuss Alaska issues.

[February: Dubke named White House communications director]

The communications director is generally responsible for shaping the broader messaging policy out of the White House. The task is presumed difficult under a president with such a keen interest in media coverage and a penchant for operating on his own via Twitter.

[As Trump grapples with Russia investigation, his communications chief has stepped down]

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Dubke, based in Washington, co-founded the political strategy firm Crossroads Media in 2001 and has been closely involved in Alaska politics through his Virginia-based communications firm Black Rock Group.

Black Rock Group opened an Anchorage office in 2015 to help manage Murkowski's re-election campaign, employing Anchorage attorney Scott Kendall, who is now chief of staff for Alaska Gov. Bill Walker.

Dubke also served as lead strategist on Sullivan's 2014 Senate campaign.

He founded a political funding organization — Americans for Job Security — that ran television ads attacking Democratic Gov. Tony Knowles in 2002.

AJS made a splash in Alaska by running afoul of Alaska campaign laws during a 2009 effort to funnel funds into a campaign against the proposed Pebble mine.

Erica Martinson

Erica Martinson is a former reporter for the Anchorage Daily News based in Washington, D.C.

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