GOPAC-backed group spends $178,000 against three Alaska House candidates

An Anchorage independent expenditure group funded mostly by national Republican organizations spent about $178,000 in three weeks against three Alaska House candidates, according to a report it filed Tuesday.

Families of the Last Frontier spent about $88,900 against Rep. Ky Holland, $45,000 against Cliff Groh and $44,100 against Brent Johnson between Oct. 3 and Oct. 24, its Seven Day Report to the Alaska Public Offices Commission shows. The money paid for direct mail, streaming audio, online video, connected TV and Meta ads.

All three are in races that could be close. Holland, a nonpartisan, faces Republican John Boyle in House District 9, which covers South Anchorage's Hillside, Girdwood and Turnagain Arm. Holland won the seat in 2024 by 992 votes.

Groh, a Democrat, faces Republican Dan Sager in District 18 in North Anchorage. Groh lost that seat by 22 votes in 2024, and this year it's open. Johnson, a nonpartisan, is challenging Republican Rep. Sarah Vance in District 6, which includes Homer, Kasilof, Ninilchik, Seldovia and Anchor Point.

In September, the group reported mailers supporting Boyle, Sager and Vance.

Most of the group's money comes from outside Alaska. GOPAC, an Arlington, Virginia, group that backs Republican candidates, gave $40,000 on Oct. 19, after giving $150,000 in September. The Republican State Leadership Committee, which focuses on state legislative races, gave $50,000 in August. Together, those gifts account for $240,000 of the $260,700 the group has raised.

The group also spent $19,400 supporting Brenda Wilson and Mark Smith in House District 37 and $16,550 supporting Nellie Jimmie in District 38. All of its ad money went to PS Strategies, an Anchorage firm.

National money is also funding the other side in some of the same races. A group funded by the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee has reported spending against Vance and four other Republican House candidates. The LCV Victory Fund, a national conservation group, gave $255,000 to an Anchorage group backing Holland.

Families of the Last Frontier had about $62,300 left as of Oct. 24 and has spent about $321,000 on the general election. Steve Strait chairs the group, Christy Strutz is treasurer, and Randy Ruedrich, a former chair of the Alaska Republican Party, is deputy treasurer.