Matt Schultz suspends U.S. House campaign, backs Bill Hill

Matt Schultz is suspending his campaign for Alaska's U.S. House seat and asking Alaskans to support Bill Hill.

"Today, I am suspending my campaign for U.S. House," Schultz wrote Friday in a post from his campaign account.

Schultz did not give a single reason for the decision or say what changed inside the campaign. In his statement, he said he entered the race because he believes public service is a moral calling and because "too many Alaskans feel unheard."

"I am disappointed by Republican outside groups meddling in this race and by the lack of meaningful support from Democratic institutions," Schultz wrote. "But defeating Nick Begich and restoring a Democratic House majority must come before any one candidate."

Schultz wrote that he is "asking Alaskans to vote for Bill Hill in November."

Neither Schultz’s statement nor Hill’s response fully explains the internal campaign reasons for the move.

Hill is one of the candidates running against Begich in Alaska's at-large U.S. House race. Schultz's announcement moves him from competing for that lane to urging voters toward Hill.

Hill responded Friday in his own campaign statement, framing Schultz’s exit as unity around defeating Begich while acknowledging that he and Schultz come from different backgrounds and do not agree on every issue.

Hill described Schultz’s decision as "tough and selfless" and praised him for running what Hill called a "strong, grassroots, Alaskan campaign."

Hill said Schultz had made a case for lower costs, affordable health care and ending corruption in Washington, D.C., calling them "the same issues I’ve committed to fight for in Congress."

"Over the next 109 days, I’m going to do everything I can to finish the job of returning our sole congressional seat to the hardworking people of Alaska," Hill wrote.

He thanked supporters who hosted house parties, made calls, knocked on doors, donated, endorsed him and helped the campaign travel the state.

"This campaign was built by people who believe politics can still be rooted in service, integrity, and care for our neighbors," Schultz wrote. "I will never forget the trust you placed in me or the stories you shared along the way."

Schultz said he was suspending the campaign but "not stepping away from the work."

"I will continue working for justice, a government that serves people first, and an end to the corrupting influence of big money in our politics," he wrote.

The primary is Aug. 18.