Alaska Voters Approve Campaign Contribution Limits in Primary

Alaskan voters showed overwhelming support for Ballot Measure 1 during the statewide primary election on August 18, 2026. Early tallies from the Alaska Division of Elections indicate the measure has the support of approximately 71.5% to 71.8% of participating voters, a roughly 3-to-1 margin.

If approved, the law will cap individual contributions to candidates at $2,000 and political group donations at $4,000 per two-year election cycle for state-level offices, including governor and the state House and Senate. These limits will be adjusted for inflation every 10 years. The measure was placed on the ballot via petition by the group Citizens Against Money in Politics after Governor Mike Dunleavy Jr. vetoed a legislative bill with identical limits, arguing it did not sufficiently restrict self-funded candidates.

The push for new limits follows a period of unregulated contributions triggered by a 2021 ruling from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The court found that a previous $500-per-year limit was unconstitutionally low and violated the First Amendment, a decision the Dunleavy administration declined to appeal. Vote-counting continues through August 28, and the measure will take effect after the November general election if it maintains more than 50% support.