Democrats and centrist candidates in Alaska’s 50 legislative races have a heavy fundraising advantage heading into the final month of campaigning before Election Day.
In several races that could determine control of the state House and Senate, candidates who have expressed interest in joining a bipartisan coalition have raised more money than candidates who say they want to caucus only with Republicans.
The November ballot will feature 50 legislative races and a total of 104 candidates. Eleven of the legislative races are uncontested. Eight are open races, meaning there is no incumbent.
This is the second statewide election cycle since Alaska’s former campaign contribution limits were eliminated by a federal appeals court as being too restrictive. The court decision suggested Alaska could revise its limits to pass constitutional muster, but the Legislature has not passed a bill to do so since the former caps were removed in 2021.
Spending reports show the state’s legislative candidates have collectively raised at least $4.4 million since the beginning of the election cycle. At least $2.8 million of that has gone to candidates who favor bipartisan coalitions in the House and Senate. Over $1.5 million has gone to GOP candidates who have expressed support for forming Republican-only majorities.
The difference in fundraising is most pronounced in several key House races, where left-leaning and moderate candidates are seeking to take back control of the chamber from the current Republican-led majority. Many candidates are substantially bolstered by independent expenditure groups, Alaska’s version of political action committees.
A top left-leaning group, Putting Alaskans First Committee, which is funded by unions and backs candidates to join bipartisan majorities, has spent over $510,000 this election cycle. Meanwhile, a major right-leaning fundraising group, Families of the Last Frontier, which boosts Republicans in key races, has spent $237,000.
Campaign funding also comes in large part from a few wealthy Alaskans who have taken full advantage of the lack of limits.
Robin Brena, an Anchorage attorney who represented the winners in campaign finance litigation that struck down the state’s old contribution limits, spent more than $80,000 on political campaigns since the beginning of the year, including five-figure contributions to five different left-leaning candidates in competitive races.
Justin Weaver, another Anchorage resident, has spent more than $122,000 on political campaigns since the beginning of the year, giving several thousands of dollars each to numerous Democrats, independents and moderate Republicans in some of the most high-profile races of the year.
Weaver is new to political spending. Records show he began making political contributions in Alaska in 2022. He’s lived in the state for 24 years, around half his life, he said in a phone interview. What compelled him to give generously this year was Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of a bipartisan education bill in March that would have substantially increased the state’s public school funding formula for the first time in several years.
“My father died 10 years ago, and he was very big into education, and he always said that ‘you can’t take part in democracy unless you have information and an education,’” he said.
The veto was also cited by several candidates this year as their primary motivation in running for office. Weaver said the veto was “heartbreaking” and that this “seemed like the right time to be involved.”
“I also am a huge supporter of public education, and I’m tired of seeing Dunleavy push charter schools,” said Weaver. The governor had long supported charter schools, dating back to his time as state senator.
Weaver said his family made its fortune from oil in Texas, and that he continues to manage that wealth now. He declined to say how much wealth he has to manage. “It’s fair to say that this isn’t going to impact my lifestyle,” he said about the $122,000 in campaign contributions he made this year.
Weaver decided which candidates to support by figuring out which would join a bipartisan coalition and support education funding, he said. He added that he received help learning about candidates from some public relations groups, but declined to name them.
“I felt like maybe I could make a difference here, and I see what’s happening to the kids here, and they’re just being wronged,” Weaver said.
Competitive districts
The Alaska House is currently governed by a slim Republican-led majority with support from two independents and two Democrats who represent districts in rural Alaska. State legislators and political observers expect control of the state House will be decided by a few key seats, primarily in Anchorage and Fairbanks.
In a South Anchorage race, Republican challenger Chuck Kopp, a former lawmaker who is running to the left of incumbent Rep. Craig Johnson, has raised close to $60,000 and spent almost $44,000. Johnson, meanwhile, has raised just over $28,000 and spent around $9,000. Johnson has roughly $19,000 for the final push to Election Day, while Kopp has close to $15,000.
In an open race for a South Anchorage House seat, Democrat Denny Wells has raised over $182,000, far outpacing Republican former lawmaker Mia Costello, who brought in just over $53,000 so far.
In another open South Anchorage race, independent Ky Holland far out-raised Republican Lucy Bauer. Holland brought in $93,000 while Bauer brought in close to $62,000. Holland had $52,000 cash on hand one month out from the election, while Bauer — who has powered her campaign by spending her personal wealth — had $180.
In an Anchorage Hillside race, Republican incumbent Rep. Julie Coulombe is trailing far behind an independent challenger in fundraising. Coulombe has so far raised under $68,000 while Walter Featherly, who is campaigning on the promise to join a mostly Democratic coalition, raised close to $148,000.
In an East Anchorage race, Democrat Ted Eischeid out-raised Republican incumbent Rep. Stanley Wright. Eischeid brought in over $131,000 while Wright raised close to $28,000. In the nearby Government Hill area, Democratic Rep. Cliff Groh has raised close to $181,000 against Republican former lawmaker David Nelson, who raised just over $13,000.
The Alaska Senate is currently governed by a 17-member bipartisan supermajority. Political observers expect that bipartisan majority to govern next year, but several key seats could shift the balance between Republicans and Democrats.
In a Fairbanks Senate district, Republican challenger Leslie Hajdukovich has out-raised Democratic incumbent Sen. Scott Kawasaki. Since launching her campaign, Hajdukovich has brought in nearly $195,000, compared with Kawasaki’s haul of just over $166,000. But Kawasaki has far more left in the bank for the final month of the campaign — nearly $138,000 — while Hajdukovich has just under $36,000.
In a closely watched Eagle River Senate race, Republican incumbent Sen. Kelly Merrick brought in $130,000, surpassing the haul of more conservative Republican challenger Jared Goecker, who brought in $115,000 after attacking Merrick’s record of joining bipartisan coalitions. Merrick also heads into the final month before the election with more campaign funds in the bank compared to Goecker.
On the Kenai Peninsula, Republican Sen. Jesse Bjorkman of Nikiski far out-raised more conservative Republican challenger Ben Carpenter, who has criticized Bjorkman for joining a bipartisan coalition. Bjorkman raised close to $132,000, compared to Carpenter’s haul of $67,000.
In a vast Interior Senate district that also covers parts of Fairbanks, independent Savannah Fletcher’s fundraising exceeded that of Mike Cronk, a Republican current House member who is running for the open seat. Fletcher brought in more than $120,000 and had most of it left in the bank with a month to go. Cronk raised $67,000 with a little over half remaining.