Kreiss-Tomkins campaign claims $1.85M raised, most cash on hand in Alaska governor's race

Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins filed his July campaign finance report Tuesday with the Alaska Public Offices Commission showing $1,847,331 raised since launching in February, from 1,569 Alaskan donors spread across 67 communities. His campaign says those figures top every other candidate in the race, including the most Alaskan donors of any candidate in the field. The cash-on-hand figure, $503,914, is also the highest in the field, the campaign claims.

The comparative claims come from the campaign's own release. AlaskaNews has not independently verified the figures against other candidates' APOC filings, and readers should treat the field-leading characterizations as the campaign's assertion until those filings are cross-checked.

The campaign release also states that 79 percent of contributions were $100 or less, which it says is the highest share among Democrats, and that the average contribution was the lowest of any Democrat in the race.

"Thank you to the 1,569 Alaskans from 67 communities in every corner of the state who have contributed to our campaign," Kreiss-Tomkins said in the release. "The reason for our campaign's financial strength is simple: Alaskans want change. That means great public schools, healthy fisheries, and lower costs for healthcare, electricity, housing, and childcare."

The report arrives four weeks before the August 18 primary, as the campaign builds on several recent developments. A Public Policy Polling survey placed Kreiss-Tomkins in a tie for second place in the 17-candidate field, within the margin of error of the leader. Among voters familiar with him, he led the field with 26 percent support. The campaign launched its first television and cable ad on July 8 and has drawn endorsements from the Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association, the Alaska Professional Fire Fighters Association, SEIU 775, and former Gov. Tony Knowles.

Kreiss-Tomkins, a former state representative from Sitka who served 10 years in the Alaska State House before retiring in 2023, is one of several Democrats in the 17-candidate field. The August 18 primary is a top-four contest: the four candidates with the most votes advance regardless of party.