JUNEAU — Legislative races in Anchorage are driving significant political spending ahead of the upcoming general election on Nov. 3, which will include contests for 50 of the 60 seats in the Alaska Legislature, as well as for governor, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House.
Recent primary results indicate that bipartisan control of the Legislature is likely to persist into 2027. Candidates aligned with a bipartisan coalition have shown strength both at the polls and in fundraising. In the latest campaign finance reports, Anchorage Democrats Denny Wells and Danni Hall each raised approximately $50,000 in efforts to unseat Republican incumbents.
Wells, who is challenging incumbent Rep. Mia Costello, raised a total of nearly $75,000 this election cycle, significantly outpacing Costello’s $42,600. Wells narrowly led Costello in the primary with 50.8% of the vote, a margin of just 57 votes. Costello’s major contributions came from the Alaska Republican Party, which gave her $7,000.
In another contest, Hall raised nearly $50,000 since August against Republican Rep. Julie Coulombe, who secured about $16,000 during the same period. Overall, Hall has gathered around $68,500, compared to Coulombe’s $55,400, which includes $1,500 that Coulombe carried over from last year.
The three key races in Anchorage are crucial for the current bipartisan majority, which holds a slim 21-member advantage in the House. Meanwhile, independent expenditure groups have pumped nearly $1 million into legislative candidates’ campaigns, with a significant portion targeting races in Anchorage and surrounding areas.
Putting Alaskans First is the largest independent spender supporting moderate candidates, investing about $580,000 this election cycle, largely funded by labor organizations. Conservative groups like Moving Alaska Forward and Families of the Last Frontier have also invested heavily in races for candidates facing challenges from less-funded opponents.
In the 2026 race for Alaska’s House District 8, former Department of Natural Resources Commissioner John Boyle raised about $42,702 during the most recent reporting period, bringing his total campaign contributions to around $73,300. He is challenging independent Rep. Ky Holland, who raised $41,759 recently and has accumulated approximately $110,000 during the campaign. Holland previously secured 59.9% of the primary vote against Boyle’s 40.1%.
Additionally, in an open House seat covering Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and parts of Muldoon, former Rep. Cliff Groh has raised nearly $190,000 overall, significantly exceeding Republican opponent Dan Sager’s $22,200. Groh previously lost a seat by just 22 votes in 2024 and has already spent over $100,000 in this campaign.
The results of these races, particularly in Anchorage, will play a key role in shaping the political dynamics of the Alaska House post-election. With a month remaining until the general election, candidates and independent groups are expected to ramp up their spending efforts as they vie for control of the influential legislative body.
