Outside Groups Pour Millions Into Alaska Election Races

Independent expenditure groups have invested tens of millions of dollars into Alaska's upcoming gubernatorial and congressional contests. In the race for governor, the Republican Governors Association donated 1.6 million dollars to the newly formed Kodiak PAC to support Republican candidates.

Democratic-aligned groups have focused their spending on Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. The Democratic Governors Association, Democratic Action, and AFSCME provided over 1.3 million dollars to Forward Frontier for JKT. Additionally, the group Putting Alaskans First raised nearly 1 million dollars from various unions to fund radio advertisements favoring Kreiss-Tomkins.

Spending in congressional races has been even more substantial since the August primary. Outside groups have spent over 31 million dollars in the Senate race and 6 million dollars in the House race. In the Senate contest, groups supporting Republican Senator Dan Sullivan have outspent those backing Democrat Mary Peltola by nearly 7 million dollars. Spending remains roughly equal between groups supporting Republican Nick Begich III and independent Bill Hill in the House race.