Most political money reported before Alaska's primary is aimed at a November ballot measure

The independent-spending reports filed in the days before Alaska's primary carry some large numbers, but most of that money is not aimed at Tuesday's vote. The reason is on the ballot itself: the ranked-choice repeal that the two biggest-spending committees are fighting over is not a primary question. It goes to voters in November.

Ten filers reported about $1.37 million in independent spending in the week before the primary, and the two committees battling over the repeal account for roughly $1.02 million of it. By their own descriptions, about 72 percent of that pays for advertising that runs after the primary or through the general election, much of it media booked weeks ahead.

The money actually aimed at Tuesday is far smaller. Spending tied to the candidates on the primary ballot totaled about $347,000, most of it supporting one gubernatorial candidate, Click Bishop.

The repeal on the November ballot is Measure 2: a Yes vote would end ranked-choice voting and return Alaska to closed party primaries, and a No vote would keep the current open primary and ranked-choice general election. Both sides are already spending against each other for that fight, which is why their pre-primary filings are so large.

Two cautions come with these numbers. The independent-expenditure reports do not show who ultimately funds either committee, and they do not say what the advertising actually says. Compliance specialists have told the state that booking media well ahead is ordinary practice, driven by cost and availability, and that groups must disclose a commitment once it is contracted.